Well it had to happen some time! Half Shaft!

Just picked up kids from Panto! Robin Hood apparently
Got nearly home, pulled out of a junction and heard a shuddering from (I believe) the rear and then lost all drive Very ****ed off as 1st major problem in exactly a year of owning her....been lucky maybe
From what I have previously read on this forum, I put her in Difflock and motion was restored however out of difflock no drive again :doh: it may be a half shaft? Have done a quick search for the methodology to check but a bit confused, sorry still a noobie I guess
Can someone please help identify the exact half shaft or diff that may have gone tits up please? Do I jack up the car on one side? or front to back? etc....what is the difinitive way of checking... also dont quite understand why i come to a standstill? if one drive shaft is broken why dont i just get 3 wheel drive and keep going?
as always thanks in advance for the help and ribbing
BTW 1993 110 200TDI CSW
Sean

saxmanuk said:

Just picked up kids from Panto! Robin Hood apparently
Got nearly home, pulled out of a junction and heard a shuddering from (I believe) the rear and then lost all drive Very ****ed off as 1st major problem in exactly a year of owning her....been lucky maybe
From what I have previously read on this forum, I put her in Difflock and motion was restored however out of difflock no drive again :doh: it may be a half shaft? Have done a quick search for the methodology to check but a bit confused, sorry still a noobie I guess
Can some please help identify the exact half shaft or diff that may have gone tits up please? Do I jack up the car on one side? or front to back? etc....what is the difinitive way of checking... also dont quite understand why i come to a standstill? if one drive shaft is broken why dont i just get 3 wheel drive and keep going?
as always thanks in advance for the help and ribbing
BTW 1993 110 200TDI CSW
Sean

Click to expand...

You don't get 3 wheel drive because the diff will be probably turning the broken half shaft, and as in the nature of differentials, it won't then drive the other half shaft.

Ahh get it! Thanks.

Still not sure how to check which half shaft has bust however?!

take 1 out if its not that 1 then its the other quickest idea ring of 17mm nuts and remove it

Could jack up one wheel at a time with difflock in, wheel that spins freely should be the one that the H/S is broken on as the others should not spin free.

I think. :confused2:

A pain Sax


Take it out of diff lock, put in gear and get someone to watch which prop shaft spins - the one spinning signposts the axle at fault.

Then jack each wheel on the faulty axle in turn (making sure the other wheel on the same axle is on the ground) - put back in diff lock - the wheel that you can turn by hand is the faulty side.

Station House said:

A pain Sax


Take it out of diff lock, put in gear and get someone to watch which prop shaft spins - the one spinning signposts the axle at fault.

Then jack each wheel on the faulty axle in turn (making sure the other wheel on the same axle is on the ground) - put back in diff lock - the wheel that you can turn by hand is the faulty side.

Click to expand...

Station, Guys...many thanks, have just tried as you said...so far have got to, (before I have had to stop to pick kids up from school!)
1) Difflock off...into 1st gear and jumped out....front prop going round , rear prop not moving.....so I guess the problem is with the front
2) Just to be sure Jacked up back end...difflock on, both rear wheels move only one inch either way and move prop shaft...so OK I think
3) Jacked up front end...both wheels off the ground ....difflock on...both wheels move......
4) So I guess I need to lift front wheels indepentently as you suggest to see which one is bust?

If one wheel spins, I guess its not as easy like the back axle where they just pull out as it could be the shaft, the CV, the diff? Do I need to take the whole hub, swivel off to replace? and if I do.. is it worth doing properly and refurbing both sides etc...?
Thanks again
Sax

Bad luck on it being the front, back is so much simpler as you said.

Buster's guide on CV's might help ya understand the front axle more

http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f41/cv-joint-renewal-68945.html

Tom.JTC said:

Bad luck on it being the front, back is so much simpler as you said.

Buster's guide on CV's might help ya understand the front axle more

http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f41/cv-joint-renewal-68945.html

Click to expand...

I am a dick! I was just reading Busters rear half shaft and completely forgot he did a CV as well

Front not as quick as the rear, but only a partial strip down required - if memory serves just down to taking the brake disc off.

Just make sure you have all the replacement bolts and gaskets etc. that you need before you start.

The pain - and not trying to jinx you - is if you also have to take the diff off to get part of the shaft out (depending on where it broke)

Station House said:

Front not as quick as the rear, but only a partial strip down required - if memory serves just down to taking the brake disc off.

Just make sure you have all the replacement bolts and gaskets etc. that you need before you start.

The pain - and not trying to jinx you - is if you also have to take the diff off to get part of the shaft out (depending on where it broke)

Click to expand...

Think I am gonna do it as Busters guide....will post piccies of the procedure and the issue!
Cheers

Get a piece of broom broom handle about 6 inches longer than the halfshaft and glue one of them super strong rare earth magnets to the end. Makes fishing the broken bit out a lot easier. Use decent glue or you'll end up with a magnet stuck to the broken shaft and a short broom handle. I used a hot glue gun to stick the magnet to the handle. Its also useful for recovering nuts and washers that have dropped into the most awkward of places.

Shifty1962 said:

Get a piece of broom broom handle about 6 inches longer than the halfshaft and glue one of them super strong rare earth magnets to the end. Makes fishing the broken bit out a lot easier. Use decent glue or you'll end up with a magnet stuck to the broken shaft and a short broom handle. I used a hot glue gun to stick the magnet to the handle. Its also useful for recovering nuts and washers that have dropped into the most awkward of places.

Click to expand...

great tip.... like these ?
(20mmx2m /10-Pack) Super Strong Rare-Earth RE Magnets | eBay

Station House said:

Front not as quick as the rear, but only a partial strip down required - if memory serves just down to taking the brake disc off.

Just make sure you have all the replacement bolts and gaskets etc. that you need before you start.

The pain - and not trying to jinx you - is if you also have to take the diff off to get part of the shaft out (depending on where it broke)

Click to expand...

Well.....I have tested both front wheels seperately....both wheels spin! so does this mean diff or Both CV/half shafts ?
anyway Friday night is BEER night and I am off to have plenty

Station House said:

A pain Sax
.....

Then jack each wheel on the faulty axle in turn (making sure the other wheel on the same axle is on the ground) - put back in diff lock - the wheel that you can turn by hand is the faulty side.

Click to expand...

Not sure that will work because the wheel on the broken shaft will turn as you say but then the wheel on the good shaft will turn through the diff and spin the broken bit of shaft allowing you to turn either wheel. The only way you could possibly tell is that one of the wheels will be slightly easier to turn than the other as the broken side will not be turning the diff over.

Easiest way is to pull one side. You have a better chance of getting it right first time. Especially if you can feel one side turning easier than the other before you pull the shaft. If not its 50/50 and I'd put money on the shorter shaft being bust as it does not have as much torsional give as the longer one.

Good for you!

Don't think you'll know until strip down, but would be surprised if both shafts snapped at the same time

Im sure ive read that some people weaken the half shaft slightly at the hub end to ensure that when it does break its at that end and not the diff end.

They used to score a groove around the circumference i think.

Makes a bit of sense.

Shifty1962 said:

Not sure that will work because the wheel on the broken shaft will turn as you say but then the wheel on the good shaft will turn through the diff and spin the broken bit of shaft allowing you to turn either wheel. The only way you could possibly tell is that one of the wheels will be slightly easier to turn than the other as the broken side will not be turning the diff over.

Easiest way is to pull one side. You have a better chance of getting it right first time. Especially if you can feel one side turning easier than the other before you pull the shaft. If not its 50/50 and I'd put money on the shorter shaft being bust as it does not have as much torsional give as the longer one.

Click to expand...

Thanks Shifty, I will try that before I start pulling the diff out. As you say 50% chance I will get the right side...and I will start with the offside shaft 1st...will take piccies and report back when I get the chance to do it

OK, report time....managed to find 2 hours today to strip down and find out what the problem is....followed Busters guide (thanks Buster ) and found the following...... thats the largest piece of the bearing cradle from inside the offside CV joint. all the rest were in small pieces.....would any small piece be able to get past the swivel seal into the diff????....the swivel looked pitted as well so will replace it I think..When I came to empty the old oil/grease there was hardly a drop come out! .

The outside of the half shaft is like so..... damaged from the 1/4 mile I had to drive it home

Questions Which is the best replacement Swivel? What do I need to fix the CV? and is the damage to the outside of the shaft OK as it does not actually touch anything does it.......
Thanks for all the advise guys...I really enjoyed the last few hours stripping it down and the posts on here gave me the confidence to do it with a DIY toolkit!