Fun and games with final drive

[CovKid]

Today, old Chickenkoop said he was going to tackle his clutch (slipping) so in the team spirit, loaded up the bus with jacks, sockets etc etc and set off.

Hadn't got more than a mile or so and TWANG! - driveshaft came adrift at a busy set of traffic lights. Couple of motorists could see me floundering in the middle and kindly pushed me to a safer spot. No chance on side of the road as five bolts snapped (yes FIVE) and its an outer so will need stub removing to get bolt remains out. Never mind - stuff happens. Just a rotten job for Monday I guess.

Apparently GSF don't do the bolts?? Is that right???

Locked up bus and walked to Chickenkoop's, helped him remove his gearbox ready for a clutch change (what a chore THAT was) and we discovered an oil-soaked clutch and a seeping gearbox input shaft seal. Now a case of waiting till Brickwerks fires up on Tuesday to order in the generally leaky gearbox seals. The curious thing is that I was about to tackle the same job this week on my own so looks like he'll be ordering them and using the ones I'd already bought a while back to do the same damned job. Not much point removing a gearbox and not giving it an oil change and a general seeing to.

Sods law though isn't it - on the way to help and my own gives up the ghost!

[ronsrecord]

oh dear! still want a hand with the windscreen on friday? or will it be another job??

[CovKid]

Hard to say although Rob did say Sat might be better for him. I should get shaft sorted on Monday (poss Sunday afternoon) providing I have enough spare CV bolts kicking around - five is rather a lot to lose and amazed that GSF doesn't do them unless guy on phone had totally lost the plot. Hampers me a bit for sure Ron. Blast these CV bolts!

[ronsrecord]

give us a shut if i can lend a hand

[toomanytoys]

5 wont have just sheared all at once.. more likely they have come loose and then sheared over time.....
GSF do the bolts in a boot kit...
GSF used to do the input seals... but worth checking the spigot bearing is in good nick/there as if the input shaft is flopping about the new seal wont last long..

[toomanytoys]

double post....

[hixsy]

Gsf is where i got my cv bolts ralph, im pressuming you mean the black torques ones, i replaced them when i took that driveshaft out.

[CovKid]

Yep. Are they only part of a kit though or on their own Hixsy? Don't mind replacing gaiters but mine are months old at most.

Incidently, we finally tested that ALDI fixed towing bar as Rob (chickenkoop) towed me back to mine this morning. Worth noting that we found we needed a round file to doctor the ends so they'd fit the T25 front towing eye better. That sorted, towed back no prob and much better than a tow rope which isn't much fun for tow-er or tow-ee.

[toomanytoys]

If your boots are good.. just use the bolts out of the kit.. if they done do them seperate...

[hixsy]

i cant actually remember, but i have none spare and i just got wat i needed 6 of them. unless the guy split them from the kit ?

[Aidan]

buy good bolts the silver multispline ones that come with kits are pooh, tend to shear their heads off, don't seem to be made of proper grade steel and badly cut
genuine hex from classic or multispline 12.9 from other sources, see also syncro paddys post re merc cv bolts for syncro front inners which are a dadge longer though these are still available from vw as are the washers for 7p each

[CovKid]

I do have a VW commercial place in Coventry. Would my best bet be to go to them Aidan?

[CovKid]

Anyway, job for today is unbolt driveshaft from gearbox (not easy when its the other end thats gone and its now all loose) and see if i can persuade broken bolts from back of hub with a screwdriver without having to undo axle nut and knock stub out. Wish me luck on that eh?

Then I'll see if Chickenkoop wants to go drive for bolts and bits for his camper tomorrow - long walk from here to the far end of the Foleshill rd...

Damn, I hope those broken bolts come out easy

Update: Hour later, wasn't a hope of removing bits of broken bolts from hub with limited room inside trailing arms so unbolted hub nut, knocked stub through and coaxed remains of bolt out on the bench by undoing them with a hammer and punch until out far enough to remove with fingers. It is possible (as I just did) to put stub back through afterwards without having to strip brake drums etc but you do have to oil it well to assist it back into the splines (make sure the bearing spacer hasn't dropped in the meantime therefore blocking reassembly - I was lucky)) and finally retighten hub nut. Mentioning all this in case anyone else ever has to do this job.

Just need to locate new bolts tomorrow. If all else fails I'll get the CV boot kit from GSF but feel it might pay me to source better quality bolts (VW or otherwise). Worth noting that this driveshaft had the standard locking washers whereas other side has sprung washers and hasn't moved. Maybe thats the way to go - dunno.

[hixsy]

ya nearly there then, i feel your pain after havin my driveshaft off for 2 days before it got sorted, good news that youve done the hard part though huh? Them bolts were too a nightmare for me and they had the ends on em aswell ! Oh well youll be back on the road by the sounds of it