Drive Shaft CV boots

[FunElan]

if you find out what you need exactly and let me know, i can buy one and put on a normal letter to the US. cant imagine something that cheap to be a problem with the border, specially if posted as a "gift" ?

That can probably be just mailed in an envelope with a stamp. I might take you up on that, especially if Matt (Torquehorse) needs some too!

[TorqueHorse]

The "official" designation (at least, in the UK) appears to be a 'shaft snap ring' ...

I should have known since mine "snapped"

if you find out what you need exactly and let me know...

Thanks! I'll report back here how what I ended up ordering works (or not) and then let you know.

That can probably be just mailed in an envelope with a stamp. I might take you up on that...

FunElan, It was a bag of two, so I'll have one extra, if it works I can send to you too.

[dapinky]

This is a picture of a Vauxhall Cavalier CV joint of the same era - the spring clips look like pretty standard circlips in shape, but with a constant section for it's entire circumference, and a square section......

...... I haven't seen inside an Elan one for a long time, and can't comment if the shaft groove would accept a square section clip or not - but as the CV joint is the same as a Cavalier one, it may well be the same (but I accept that they made different versions of the same CV joint, so may have adapted one for the Elan use).

cv joint.jpg

[TorqueHorse]

Thanks for sharing that stuff Dave!
If the CV joint/shaft connection had just been made like that, it would be a lot easier to remove, since it seems like you have access to pry that spring clip apart after just removing the rubber boot (and grease).

[TorqueHorse]

Forgot to update. Got the snap ring. The open part of the C is larger than the original, but still seems to fit OK. Popped on easily, didn't hang way over the edge like the other ring I had, and seems to provide enough resistance (just tugging by hand) now that the shaft is in the CV assembly. Again, was a 23mm piston snap ring, so not exactly the application it was designed for, but also hoping I never have need to test how well it pops off again