drive shaft rubber boots

[greystag]

Anyone tell me if I can replace rubber boots on haft shafts by unbolting from diff,only rebuilt all rear suspension not long ago,but rubbish rubber boots are falling apart
properly from china and mot next week.

[tjk]

HI

YES

Tim

[milothedog]

I'm not so sure I seem to remember that the N/S hits the exhaust pipe so you cant drop it low enough to separate it. Could be wrong

[marshman]

As Ian says the nearside shaft could be obstructed by the exhaust. Just had both my driveshafts out to sort leaking oil seals and also replace the perished rubber gaiters.

The gaiters were only a couple of years old but as the attached pic shows they were badly perished and this is the second set I had fitted. So this time I used a couple of universal CV boots. Not the split sort that you glue together but the stretch type that you pull over the CV joint. I bought a large pack of these some years ago and have used quite a few on various cars. I had a look at one I fitted to my sons Citroen AX about four years ago and it still looked as good as new so thought it has to be better than the rubbish ones meant for the job. I trimmed it to its shortest length. The fit is not great - the small end is too small but because they are so stretchy it actually fits very snug. The other end is too big really but again because the rubber is so supple it can easily be gathered in with a long plastic tie wrap and makes quite a neat job. Best of all they are quite cheap and I am confident they will last a long time. Oh and yes it does allow the splines to move/extend enough as the suspension drops.

I can't remember exactly where I got them from but this is a link to some that look similar. As an added bonus you get a sachet of CV (moly?) grease to lube up the splines on the shafts as well.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-OUTER-CV-UNIVERSAL-STRETCH-BOOT-KIT-NEW-/170922388532?hash=item27cbc4ac34:m:mZMyI7Ug6GD16KA69W3H39g

Pics below: 1. CV boot trimmed to length and fitted, 2. & 3. Old split gaiter, 4. New universal CV boot before cutting to length.

PICT0072.jpgPICT0073.jpgPICT0074.jpgPICT0075.jpg

Roger

[marshman]

Also not 100% certain a split gaiter on the rear drive shaft splines would be a failure as it does not technically form part of the suspension unlike the rear drive shafts on old Jags. However if you are in a fix before your MoT you could remove both gaiters before the test and I doubt the tester would know. I would advise sorting it fairly quickly though to stop too much muck and dirt getting in there and causing wear of the splines.

Roger

[flying farmer]

Use cut down steering rack gaiters, they last forever when fitted to driveshafts, rather than the weeks of life expectancy of the "proper" article.

Neil

[marshman]

Use cut down steering rack gaiters, they last forever when fitted to driveshafts, rather than the weeks of life expectancy of the "proper" article.

Neil

I looked at a few steering rack gaiters that I have got lying around but the small end wouldn't stretch over the drive shaft which is why I ended up using the universal CV boot, also the rubber is neoprene so is really soft and flexible - more so than the steering rack gaiters I looked at.

Roger

[greystag]

HI All thanks for post and TIM gets this weeks prize, yes you can fit drive shaft rubbers by releasing flang. on axle, 1hour job,DONE. Till the next time.

[milothedog]

HI All thanks for post and TIM gets this weeks prize, yes you can fit drive shaft rubbers by releasing flang. on axle, 1hour job,DONE. Till the next time.

Well done, I'm sure I couldn't do it on mine on the N/S. as I said the stainless exhaust system I have wouldn't let it drop low enough to separate it on the splines.

Ian.

[jbuckl]

If its not the rubbish parts it the rubbish testers.

Last year I had an advise on a slightly loose rear wheel bearing, ironically the last one I had changed.

Just swapped it out for another rebuilt one.

Absolutely nothing wrong with one I took off.

Perhaps we need chinese M.O.T's to go with our chinese parts?

[marshman]

If its not the rubbish parts it the rubbish testers.

Last year I had an advise on a slightly loose rear wheel bearing, ironically the last one I had changed.

Just swapped it out for another rebuilt one.

Absolutely nothing wrong with one I took off.

Perhaps we need chinese M.O.T's to go with our chinese parts?

I know what you mean, I get a friendly comment every year on my Landy, "the wheel bearings are starting to get a bit of play" they say. When I get back home I check them properly by measuring the end foat with a DTI and they all have about 5 thou end float, bang in the middle of the manufacturers spec. I think these days they don't like to feel any play as so many modern cars are not adjustable. The front ones on my Passat estate are easy (not!), torque to 176 lbft the tighten another 180 degrees. Easy with a 6 foot scaffold pole as an extension!

Roger

[tjk]

Hi

Glade it worked for you, have changed mine in the past. Whats the prize

Tim

[Guest]

I to have had perished boots both drive shafts and rack, emailed the well known supplier told him that this is pain in the bottom and they refunded purchase price but have not responded to enquiry if the problem has been solved.
So ordered new from another well known supplier fingers crossed.

John

[milothedog]

I know what you mean, I get a friendly comment every year on my Landy, "the wheel bearings are starting to get a bit of play" they say. When I get back home I check them properly by measuring the end foat with a DTI and they all have about 5 thou end float, bang in the middle of the manufacturers spec. I think these days they don't like to feel any play as so many modern cars are not adjustable. The front ones on my Passat estate are easy (not!), torque to 176 lbft the tighten another 180 degrees. Easy with a 6 foot scaffold pole as an extension!

Roger

This is why the MOT exemption for Historic vehicles is being put together Roger. Younger generation don't have the experience and understanding of the engineering techniques and allowable tolerances that were used when our cars were built.

Ian.

[marshman]

This is why the MOT exemption for Historic vehicles is being put together Roger. Younger generation don't have the experience and understanding of the engineering techniques and allowable tolerances that were used when our cars were built.

Ian.

Scary is all I can say. I am totally against MoT exemption for any vehicle of any age. As more and more people who understand older vehicles are lost there is a greater need for someone to look over it once a year to make sure there is at least some chance of the wheels staying on! More and more older "classic" cars are being bought by largely clueless people who treat them like a modern, i.e. drive for three years, no servicing or checking until its first mot unless a dash light comes on! Ask any MoT tester how many people think that the annual mot is also a service.

Roger