Driveshaft replacement?

[stevieg8571]

Morning all.

I removed the front right wheel yesterday to help get to the oil filter and discovered the inner area of the wheel was covered in black grease.
The outboard boot on the end of the driveshaft has cracked, probably due to the jubilee clip wearing through.
I've noticed some play in the same driveshaft at the diff end so am thinking of getting the whole shaft changed, as they're in this years aftersales list for £93 + VAT I think.
Can anyone confirm that a new shaft comes with new boots/gaiters on both ends?
Is it worth getting anything replaced whilst the work's being done?
Are there any bearings/parts at the diff/gearbox end that are easily sourced/changed?
I'll get the wheel bearing changed as the hub will have to be removed.

Thanks in advance,

Steve

[Specky]

I can confirm the Drive shafts are full assemblies... boots, new circlips etc, (Take out old one, put in new one)

If your in there you might as well change the wheel bearings...

and by the book you should put on a new axle nut... 7 squid each IIRC...

As for gearbox/Diff, nothing springs to mind, it's all internal, 5th gear selector fork if you want to go out on a wild tangent and a slightly different area...

TTFN

[Specky]

Just read your post again...

If you have play at the diff end and you were doing the oil filter...I surmized it's the jack shaft/gearbox that has the wear...

The drive shafts that the aftersales do, do not include the jack shaft.

TTFN

[stevieg8571]

Thanks for the reply.

Are the axle nuts easily available or are they a Lotus item only?

I was already thinking of getting one of the S2 PAS/steering racks anyway so might see what's worth changing whilst that area's in pieces.

[Specky]

The nuts must be available all over the place, there's nothing to special about them,

I did the steering rack thing to...

Be ware the project creep...

TTFN

[stevieg8571]

Top tip about the project creep, although funds and time may limit me to what's necessary, I did say MAY though!!

By jack shaft/gearbox do you mean 'inboard Driveshaft assembly RH, A100R6006S'?

These are available in one of the Aftersales lists I've found!

[John_W]

Stevie,
I had the wheel bearings replaced a couple of months ago, and (as I had a couple of new driveshafts around) the garage recommended replacing them at the same time since the additional hassle was minimal. I didn't replace the short shaft because I didn't have one. I got the garage to replace the bearings as I didn't fancy breaking the ball joints and don't have the kit to press out the old bearings.

As Dave says, the new driveshafts are complete with rubber boots fitted; they just don't have the expensive nut on the end. I got a couple from SJ.

Although I have a spare steering rack, I didn't get that fitted as there was no need and I saw no reason to spend the additional time.

John

[Specky]

Top tip about the project creep, although funds and time may limit me to what's necessary, I did say MAY though!!

By jack shaft/gearbox do you mean 'inboard Driveshaft assembly RH, A100R6006S'?

These are available in one of the Aftersales lists I've found!

Yep that's the fella...

You'll be on about the March 07 aftersales list...

I'd drop them a line and see if your luck is in..

TTFN

[stevieg8571]

Thanks for the advice fella's

There's a Lotus dealership just opened in Preston, on the docks, so I'll be calling them first thing tomorrow to see if they can get the R/H shaft in by next weekend. No breathe will be held though!

Steve

[Specky]

You order direct from Hethel Lotus and tell them the address of the lotus dealership you want your parts to go to...

http://www.lotus60thanniversary.com/forsale.php

TTFN

[superbad]

I just got a pair of driveshafts from Lotus (thanks to incredible service from Paul Clarke at Bell & Colvill). For the sake of future searches, I thought it worth mentioning that the left hand piece came in a fresh Hardy Spicer box (with a date code of January 2006), and a part number of DL1834 (400188). The right hand side was just packed in bubble wrap, don't know if it's NOS or they just threw the box out.

The inboard boots on both assemblies are marked with the following part numbers: GKN CRC-C625 and E06917-023

The outboard boots have no part number markings, but the CV housing is marked: AF(maybe an E?)G1 A08703 091 BL2. They both appear to be stamped with the date: 31-08-94.

Hopefully this is of some use in a couple decades. Obviously if you need any of this stuff now, it's best to get them cheap from Lotus.

[stevieg8571]

I called Hethel this morning.

The guy that you're supposed to email your aftersales request to, acoughlan (spelling?) is on holiday for 2 weeks so there'll be a wait if anyone's expecting a reply or parts in the near future.
I was given an alternative address so this it may be worth calling first if you need anything.

Steve

[Mcmilab]

Sorry to hijack this thread with my own question, but..... my driveshaft was replaced a short while ago, but the only thing wrong with the old one was a split rubber boot (see photo)

My question is whether the boot is replaceable, as it seems a shame to throw away a perfectly good part just for the sake of some rubber housing.

BTW i am in no way a mechanic so if this is a daft question please don't hesitate to rofl and take the piss

Cheers

Al

[Dico]

Think your garage is taking the P!ss!
No way did the driveshaft need replacing. Boots are available, have a look in the cross reference section.

Don't throw it away!!!

[Mcmilab]

Thank you so much, the mechanic in question was only meant to be replacing the brake hoses, when I drove the car away there was a horrible scraping sound, which he said was the CV joint. Funny how it wasn't a problem before I gave him the car..... Anyway, I got the new driveshaft, and he replaced it, I was going on trust and a lack of knowledge. He showed me the boot on the driveshaft(which at the time I felt looked like it had been done with a stanley knife tbh) but as I drove the car away the scraping sound was still there, and now a strange clunking noise. Hmmmm. He took the car back ( he said, although it was picked up and returned while I was at work) and he just claimed that he couldn't find the problem and I should just keep driving it.

Here is where it got interesting, I took the car to someone else, who found that the new hoses were fouling the wheels and the brake caliper was nearly hanging off! I never paid the first mechanic for the work he did on the car with the driveshaft, and I held onto the part just in case. I am now very glad that I did It's been sitting in my Dad's garage for 6 months.

Anyone need a second hand driveshaft with a knackered boot? I can guarantee its in perfect working order otherwise

Thanks again

Al

[Monty]

Al,

Thats bad news on that Mechanic adn sounds like he was taking advantage of that you don`t know much about cars and that boot does look like a very clean cut

If your not keeping that driveshaft as a spare and depending on how much you want for it i`ll take it of you thats if you don`t mind posting if it doesn`t cost to much money.

Cheers
Jay

[stevieg8571]

Al,
I'll be keeping my used driveshaft, minus the genuinely knackered outer CV boot. Even if you don't need it in the future it may be worth something to somebody, especially if you think it was fine until then.
I only changed mine as there was already some play in the shaft whose boot sprung a leak.

Steve

[Mcmilab]

Well I'm more than happy to pass the thing on to someone, but I wouldn't even know where to start with a price so make me an offer I guess. It was kindly suggested that I take it to a trusted mechanic to make sure that it is in tip top shape before I do though. I'll run it along to the bloke on friday and let you know the condition its in.

Thanks for all the help

Al

[GeoffSmith]

Here is where it got interesting, I took the car to someone else, who found that the new hoses were fouling the wheels and the brake caliper was nearly hanging off!

A few people have worn through their brake hoses in a similar way and completely lost the brakes, although fortunately without loss of car or life. There is no excuse for a 'garage' to return a dangerous car to you not once, but twice. Just be thankful that you had the sense to get someone competent to look at it rather than rely on the advice of the first idiot.

Personally, I would be report him to trading standards or similar as there is no guarantee he won't do something similar again and the next person may not be so lucky - perhaps you could ask the advice of the second mechanic.

[Dave Eds]

Well I'm more than happy to pass the thing on to someone, but I wouldn't even know where to start with a price so make me an offer I guess. It was kindly suggested that I take it to a trusted mechanic to make sure that it is in tip top shape before I do though. I'll run it along to the bloke on friday and let you know the condition its in.

Thanks for all the help

Al

ninety three and a bit squids plus stealth tax for a new r/h driveshaft on the last aftersales list (assuming they've got any of the 16 left).

got a second hand one in my garage too if anyone wants it at that (or half of that) price.