Outboard CV Joint

[Sy V]

I don't normally respond to pressure, but GS is now holding the purse strings so he can be President of the Treasury.

[GeoffSmith]

I don't normally respond to pressure, but GS is now holding the purse strings so he can be President of the Treasury.

[Sy V]

...there's no pleasing some people. Don't you like your new rank?

[GeoffSmith]

...there's no pleasing some people. Don't you like your new rank?

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Or what about:

Master of the Missing Money

or

President of the Phantom Pennies

or

Secretary of the Spent Spondulas

or

Director of the Depleted Dosh



I blame it on PW - 144 mugs FFS, it would never have happened when I held the pursestrings.

[algirdas]

Dear Geoff:

At least you do not have "Crotchety Old Fart" hanging over your head.

Sincerely,

Algirdas

[GeoffSmith]

If I had a "Crotchety Old Fart" hanging over my head I'd move....... quick!

[Doc Fizzix]

Dear Jim:

Have you re-used the little snap rings on the axles? I'm just wondering how critical it is to re-fit new ones each time the axle comes out.

Sincerely,

Algirdas

Algirdas

I figured I would share this with you before you finish the job. For the last couple of weeks I have felt the smallest bumping when I start to accelerate from a stop. Today I got under the car and sure enough, my left side axle was slipping out of the outboard joint and I could move it in and out by hand, the snap ring is not locking and/or failed. I have done the job many times between my two Elans but this is the first time I have ever had a problem so be aware a used snap ring can failed. I would recommend to use a new ring since now I have to pull the axle again to fix the snap ring.

[algirdas]

Dear Al:

I'm talking about the snap rings that go on the axle ends that go into the transmission on the driver's side and onto the intermediate shaft on the passenger side. Not the snap rings that are in the CV joint.

Sincerely,

Algirdas

[Doc Fizzix]

Dear Al:

I'm talking about the snap rings that go on the axle ends that go into the transmission on the driver's side and onto the intermediate shaft on the passenger side. Not the snap rings that are in the CV joint.

Sincerely,

Algirdas

Well, make sure you think about the outboard snap ring also

[algirdas]

Dear Al and everybody else:

Thanks Al. Checked those and they look okay. The outboard CV joints look like they are on REAL tight with or without snap rings.

Just spoke to Marie about that dust shield on the passenger side axle by the intermediate shaft. She said that hers sits on the intermediate shaft bearing housing and does not spin with the axle. This leads me to believe that I must have tweaked mine while prying out the axle. My dust shield has a small lip on the inside edge of the hole through which the axle passes which allows it to only go so far onto the shoulder nearest to the cup of the inboard CV joint. But when I put on the dust shield it goes on real tight onto that shoulder and IT WILL spin with the axle. There is no doubt about that.

Does the dust shield spin with the axle on the right side (US passenger side) of the car? Or is it pretty much stationary on the bearing housing?

Does the dust shield go on far enough so that it is on that shoulder closest to the in-board CV cup? And, if so, is it supposed to spin freely on that shoulder?

Should I pack the area behind the dust shield with grease?

Sincerely,

Algirdas

[Doc Fizzix]

Just spoke to Marie about that dust shield on the passenger side axle by the intermediate shaft. She said that hers sits on the intermediate shaft bearing housing and does not spin with the axle. This leads me to believe that I must have tweaked mine while prying out the axle. My dust shield has a small lip on the inside edge of the hole through which the axle passes which allows it to only go so far onto the shoulder nearest to the cup of the inboard CV joint. But when I put on the dust shield it goes on real tight onto that shoulder and IT WILL spin with the axle. There is no doubt about that.

Does the dust shield spin with the axle on the right side (US passenger side) of the car? Or is it pretty much stationary on the bearing housing?

Does the dust shield go on far enough so that it is on that shoulder closest to the in-board CV cup? And, if so, is it supposed to spin freely on that shoulder?

She said that hers sits on the intermediate shaft bearing housing and does not spin with the axle. ???

Are we thinking the same part?

Are you talking about the gold metal disc on the inboard end of the right-side axle shaft ? That definitely is attached to the axle and spins with the axle.

If you are talking about the gease seal, well that is attached to the half shaft support and does not spin and yes, pack some grease behind that seal

[algirdas]

Dear Al and others:

I am talking about that gold colored metal disc that goes on the inboard end of the passenger side (right hand side) driveshaft. The more I think about it, it has to spin with the axle. I just hope that I did not tweak it enough taking out the axle so that it starts to rub on the intermediate shaft bearing carrier.

Looking at it more closely, it appears that it spins with the axle and sits just a few thousandths above the bearing carrier. Am I getting this right?

Sincerely,

Algirdas

[Doc Fizzix]

Dear Al and others:

I am talking about that gold colored metal disc that goes on the inboard end of the passenger side (right hand side) driveshaft. The more I think about it, it has to spin with the axle. I just hope that I did not tweak it enough taking out the axle so that it starts to rub on the intermediate shaft bearing carrier.

Looking at it more closely, it appears that it spins with the axle and sits just a few thousandths above the bearing carrier. Am I getting this right?

Sincerely,

Algirdas

Now your talking

Yes, it spins with the axle

[DAdragna]

Well, it has been about a year since I have even touched the Elan Mechanically! It was driven about 200 miles last year (What a sin).
I have been tied up with my Esprit...Being foolish driving the car like a "Muscle Car" I blew up the gearbox. So...that is all back together and it is now about time I get back to the Elan.
The last thing that I left off on was replacement of the CV boots!

So was it a pain Al?

I have the Brakes off, and am about to take the hub off but my sockets don't go over 30mm, so I am off to Sears.

Cheers!
Dan A

[algirdas]

Dear Dan:

I wasn't too bad, especially the second time I did the right hand side (bad boot).

Bear with me a few days and I'll throw on here a brief write up of my experiences. There is one tool that will make your life much simpler on the right side (pickle fork for a Peterbilt or something like that). Let me find the link and I'll post it up too.

Sincerely,

Algirdas

[DAdragna]

Thank you Algirdas,

Any advice you have to offer will be much appreciated.

Sincerely,
Dan A

[DAdragna]

Can anyone tell me what the hub nut size is for the front hubs? I would assume that it is a common metric size that I can pick up through a local auto supply facility.

Also, I cannot remove the hub nut on the passenger side of the car!
It is stuck...and I have broken a socket and extension handle trying to break it free. The nut has been sprayed with PB Blaster and shows no sign of letting go. I have not tried heat yet, but was thinking that if heating does not work the only method left would be to cut it off. Any suggestions.

Cheers!
Dan A

[algirdas]

Dear Dan:

The nut is a common size (I think 32 mm, but it might be larger. I'll try to check it tonight.) and I would get an impact socket that size (as in 1/2 inch or 3/4 inch drive).

Here is how I removed those nuts from my car: With the car in the air, I slid a rolling wedge into the access hole on the hub. Note-there are four holes that hold on the wheel and a fifth hole that is not threaded. Then around the 2 o'clock (left or driver's side) and 10 o'clock position (right or passenger's side) you will see in the hub a small nub or tab in the casting. You stick the rolling wedge in there to "lock" the hub in place. Assuming you have given the nut a good dousing with penetrating oil (WD-40 or liquid wrench), I then put my socket on a 1/2 drive impact wrench, had a friend stomp on the brakes, got a good grip on the rolling wedge and pulled the trigger on the impact wrench and off she came-no problems. Driver's side was even easier.

I hope this helps.

Sincerely,

Algirdas

[DAdragna]

Thanks for the tip! I need to re-mount the caliper and use the brake trick, that will keep it solid!

Regarding the size of the nut, I mean the internal diameter and thread size. I was hoping that I could pick one up locally, rather than order it from California (Dave Bean). I would think that the CV's studs are a typical metric size, and that other front wheel drive cars would have the same size nut. What do you think???

Thanks again,
Dan A

[algirdas]

Dear Dan:

I have been told that it is a Lotus only part and they are not cheap from Dave Bean. I recall hearing somewhere that it is the same as from an Elise. I have blown through several already (didn't quite get them packed and sealed right the first time)

Sincerely,

Algirdas