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Rear Driveshaft just fell off!
Posted: 06 Jan 2019, 13:52
by fresco3000
Currently waiting on recovery in Bromley.
Turned a corner a noticed something wasnt right, stopped straight away.
Can see the rear passenger side Driveshaft has dropped off. The alan key bolts have all come loose. Even found two on the road.
Is this just a case of lining it up and screwing the bolts back in or is there more to it?
Re: Rear Driveshaft just fell off!
Posted: 06 Jan 2019, 14:10
by CovKid
Very very common. Lot of torque on those driveshafts and if they were not done up tight enough last time shaft was removed or CV joint replaced, they WILL work loose> usually you'll find one or two broken or bent. They also MUST have friction washers under bolt heads. You can improvise if they're missing but without something to lock them down, they'll work loose again. Happened to almost all of us at one time or another.
Just refit but note above. New bolts will almost certainly help but you may just be lucky and a good tighten will fix it.
Re: Rear Driveshaft just fell off!
Posted: 06 Jan 2019, 14:13
by Mocki
you will need new bolts, but yes, just reattatch it .
if you dont have far to go,cancel the recovery put all the ones you have back in, and gently go home.
then order the new bolts and washers and retainers from brickwerks.
Re: Rear Driveshaft just fell off!
Posted: 06 Jan 2019, 14:15
by CovKid
I've had good results roughening up ordinary washers when I've had no other choice and they held fine but as Mocki says. you can drive home providing you have tools to do it.
Re: Rear Driveshaft just fell off!
Posted: 06 Jan 2019, 15:44
by fresco3000
Cheers guys,
Recovery was free, so let him take it to a mates garage. I’ll hopefully get her back on the road tomorrow.
Why do these things always happen on a Sunday or at night!!?
Re: Rear Driveshaft just fell off!
Posted: 07 Jan 2019, 16:04
by CovKid
Yup, and usually with driveshafts it happens just as you pull off from a busy junction so if you advoided that scenario, coult your blessings
Re: Rear Driveshaft just fell off!
Posted: 07 Jan 2019, 16:12
by fresco3000
That’s exactly what happended. I just freewheeled to the side of the road after turning off the carriageway.
Re: Rear Driveshaft just fell off!
Posted: 08 Jan 2019, 12:44
by CovKid
Chances are they were rattling about just before it happened. Unfortunately its one of those noises that by the time you've noticed it, its already too late. The sudden acceleration usually prompts the whole thing to part company. Don't worry, I'm a seasoned VW owner and its happened to me three times over the last 30 years.