Driveshaft intermediate bearing

[Bern]

Hi all,

Should there be any play in the driveshaft intermediate bearing?

The housing is bolted tightly to the engine block, but I can move the end of the driveshaft up and down. it's not a part that's listed on the SJ site.

Cheers in advance,

Bern.

[Fredjohn]

Shouldn't really be any play, mine had none when I recently replaced the driveshafts.

The bearing is not listed in the parts catalogue separately either. Only the complete shaft assembly part no A100F6033F

This is still available from elise-shop.com for about Euro170 according to their website, but not on SJ's.

However, see this post which gives the bearing size and a part no, although not necessarily OEM. This may well answer all your issues.

Make sure you read the whole thread as it clarifies sizes and part nos lower down.

Hope this helps.

[Bern]

Thanks FJ, that's perfect.

It was only after talking to you at Castle Coombe that made me think that I should look at my driveshafts.

I get a vibration at around 60, the wheels are all balanced. Also I sometimes get a slight weaving when I ease off of the accelerator. Not sure if all of that is down to the driveshaft bearing, but it looks like it needs replacing anyway.

The question is if it's worth an extra £170 to not have the bother of removing and replacing the bearing on the shaft!

I'll double check the bearing before I order anything, but my jacks are all under the Mini at the moment - that's getting new subframe mounts and rubber cones!

Cheers,

Bern.

[Fredjohn]

If you still get the vibration after changing this bearing, then you may need to change your inner drive shaft couplings/drive shafts as well (as I did)

Hope you don't.

If you remove the inner (jack) shaft, I suggest you make sure you can get the speedo drive off the box(that's the re-fill hole!), then drain the gearbox oil, then remove shaft. Otherwise oil will pour out of an inaccessible hole onto the floor as you pull the jackshaft out!!!!!!!!

You will need to move the header tank out of the way as well as removing the induction hose from wing to plenum chamber to get at the speedo drive. No need to drain header, just move it away forwards.

[lotusflasherman]

Good information here FJ, particularly the link to that old thread about bearings, but Mr Moderator please can you move it to 'Transmission & Clutch' where it belongs. I'll never remember to look under Suspension & Brakes

[Bern]

If you remove the inner (jack) shaft, I suggest you make sure you can get the speedo drive off the box(that's the re-fill hole!), then drain the gearbox oil, then remove shaft. Otherwise oil will pour out of an inaccessible hole onto the floor as you pull the jackshaft out!!!!!!!!

Ah, a good reminder, I've done that before on another car, and would've forgotten again!

but Mr Moderator please can you move it to 'Transmission & Clutch' where it belongs

Yeah, I guess it is more transmission than suspension!

[dapinky]

Hmmmm, - I reckon it could find a home in "Chassis and Steering" as well.....

Anyway - as mentioned above, if you remove the driveshaft in its entirity, you will lose transmission oil.....

..... however, it can be filled up by unbolting the aluminium box housing the selector levers (the big lumpy bit at the end of the gear cables), so no need to fiddle with the awkward speedo drive cable.

(but I waould also advise that you consider eplacing the oil seals in the gearbox output/driveshaft joint whilst you're there - only a few quid and it would be anoying to incur a leak without swapping it whilst you have the chance).

[Bern]

I've taken a proper look at it, I think the bearing is fine but the driveshaft inner joint is very loose. It seems loose where it meets the intermediate shaft as well, so maybe the splines are worn.

Unfortunately SJ aren't listing the RH driveshaft at the moment

[Simon_P]

The splines were never tight by design, so unless there is a visible step (rather than just polished) They are probably not particularly worn. They are hardened and tempered so they are very tough

The bearing is cheap and easy to replace.

Jack the car up to reduce oil loss

[Bern]

On the splines it's not just "rotationally" loose but I can move the inboard end of the driveshaft in all sorts of directions. I'm wondering if maybe the wrong snap ring was used?!

Perhaps I'll try and make a video of it.....

I've not taken the driveshaft off yet to take a look at it, I can't find the time do it at the moment

[Giniw]

As I have a similar symptom (vibration around 60mph/100kph while accelerating) I checked the shafts joints and intermediate shaft bearing and I think there is a suspicious play in the bearing.
I made a little video.
Does that seem OK to you when compared to your cars?
https://www.mirari.fr/AhfA.mp4 (14MB)

[Bern]

That is quite similar to mine.

I will try to make a video as well.....

[Giniw]

For your information, if the inner joints need to be replaced, apparently they are compatible with the Isuzu ones.
viewtopic.php?f=48&t=5979
viewtopic.php?f=46&t=7830

[Brit-Car-Nut]

Only the Turbo versions. The non-turbo Impulse used smaller diameter splined shafts (same as the GEO Storm).

The innards (bearings and yokes) are standard / conventional Spicer parts and a decent rebuilder can offer the replacement moving parts and boots so you can do it yourself. This is assuming things didn't go for too long and damaged the housings. If anyone cares, there are heavy duty parts available too, so ask your local shop if they can get those too.

[Bern]

I took a few videos wit my phone - none of them are any good! But I'd say that the play I have in the driveshaft end isn't as pronounced as Giniw's. It was worse when when not at full stretch (i.e. when the weight of the car was on the suspension rather than a jack under the cill)

[Giniw]

Thank you!
As for me, the car was on its wheels.

[Bern]

Does anybody know if this is correct:

Rock Auto Impulse driveshaft

(the last one in the list)

I guess that if the shaft length is different then that's not really an issue as I can use mine (as long as the splines are OK), it's the ends I'm really after.

Looks like a reasonable price, but obviously that doesn't include shipping or import duty.

Cheers,

Bern.

** Edit **

Just noticed that it says it also fits the Geo Storm, so I'm guessing it's not

** **

[Bern]

Ok, it looks like the Isuzu Impulse turbo didn't appear until 1991.

Rock auto only appear to have driveshafts for an auto turbo, and these look to have male ends on both sides.

Not sure if this is interesting to anybody, but the the dog wasn't interested when I told her so I've put it on here!

After '92 GM stopped the Isuzu car line, leaving them concentrating on just trucks and 4x4s. I wonder what Lotus would have done if the Elan production had continued (with Isuzu no longer making the small engine), or maybe this was an undisclosed reason for stopping Elan production?

[Giniw]

Not sure if this is interesting to anybody, but the the dog wasn't interested when I told her so I've put it on here!

As for the auto transmission that would not fit, in the links I posted earlier they say they used the manual transmission indeed: viewtopic.php?f=48&t=26163#p333668

[Bern]

As for the auto transmission that would not fit, in the links I posted earlier they say they used the manual transmission indeed: viewtopic.php?f=48&t=26163#p333668

Indeed, it looks like we need a drive shaft from a Manual Turbo impulse. It looks like something that Rock Auto don't stock.

The Isuzu Impulse is not something we had in this country. The earlier Impulse we did get as the Piazza (not Guigiaro's finest), but that was rear wheel drive.