driveshaft. massive failure. help needed.

[hefti]

Sorry for the non technical post....So yesterday husband is driving the camper then bang and no drive. One tow home later and we discover one of the drive shafts has broken leaving half of one bolt in the gearbox. Its got a replacement 5 speedgearbox. Put in by the people we bought it off. Questions are more.or less.along the lines of why has this happened and what do we need to fix it. Is this an expensive fix? Supposed go away in it sat. Looks like this isn't happening now

[Ian Hulley]

The CV bolts have come loose and sheared off.

Simple as that. Replace bolts and any damaged parts having first removed what will be a quite loose stub of a bolt left in the drive flange.

Nowt of a job.

Ian

[hefti]

Phew sounds less worrying. Husband was convinced it was a whole new gearbox!
Do you think its down to shoddy work by whoever fitted gearbox or is it just something that happens

[Ian Hulley]

Phew sounds less worrying. Husband was convinced it was a whole new gearbox!
Do you think its down to shoddy work by whoever fitted gearbox or is it just something that happens

It's normal to check the CV bolts as part of your service regime (until you get to know your van) and after a day or so of running after having fitted them. You have bought an old van, stuff like this can happen until you catch up on the neglect/bodges that former owners have perpetrated.

Ian

[hefti]

thanks ian

[ghost123uk]

Quite an easy job, use the correct well fitting tool, usually an Allen Head driver that fits onto a 1/2" socket set.

Bolts are cheap and can be got HERE - ("other suppliers are available")

[hefti]

Brilliant. I ordered some from just kampers earlier. They are however much cheaper on brick works so I ordered some more lol. Learning day by day with daisy. Seems a lot more investigation about the condition of things is required. Its not something you can just get in everyday and drive.

[Ian Hulley]

Make sure you either fit or refit the little disc-lok washers ... which are possibly the reason the originals came undone

Ian

[hefti]

I ordered some of those from brickworks. Some grease.... As you never know and now I have 24 new bolts not attempted to get sheared bolt out yet though. Just getting over the flu and 3 14 hour shifts hasn't helped. Hopefully the brain fog will have lifted tomorrow and I can crawl under see what's what.
Considering I haven't done any "mechanicing" since 1999 when I rebuilt my 63 beetle with only a Haynes manual and the most basic of tool kits. Its been a bit of an eye opener. But bit by bit I'm getting to know the van. And this forum is my bloody lifeline.
Thanks guys

[Ian Hulley]

No worries .. believe me there's nowt that you can break that we haven't buggered up before you

Ian

[hefti]

daisy seems to be fixed. two bolts were sheared removed without too much drama, bolts fitted from brickwerks with the washers
(have some from just kampers too will replace the front at some point soon)
test drive round the block and one had worked loose again. tightened and tomorrow i will test round the block and check again hiopefully this time they'll still be tight. someone suggested loctite if they keep undoing?
so hopefully we'll still be able to head off this weekend thanks for the help and advice.
h
x

[Ian Hulley]

(have some from just kampers too will replace the front at some point soon)

Unless you have a Syncro (4 wheel drive) you don't have front driveshafts or CV joints

Good that you got it sorted

Ian

[Oldiebut goodie]

Make sure that they are clean then torque them to the correct setting. 45Nm or 33ft/lb

[hefti]

(have some from just kampers too will replace the front at some point soon)

Unless you have a Syncro (4 wheel drive) you don't have front driveshafts or CV joints

Good that you got it sorted

Ian

well you learn something new everyday lol

[Simon Baxter]

We always tighten them, then go around and tighten them again.
You must also make sure the little serrated washers are present or suffer them constantly coming loose.