drive shafts

[rainbow]

I have been running my 2.0 vitesse convertible for about 7 years and was wondering does anyone else get through as many halfshafts as me??

All new bearings etc when put back on the road , after about 3 years n/side inner needle roller disintegrated wrecking shaft, new one fitted.One year later flange came loose,poss, bad fit on shaft and not correctly checked by me? On my racing Elan we used to seat them using grinding paste before fitting them up. Any how another new shaft etc fitted.

Then last autumn driving at about 30mph, large bang and n/side wheel disappears across the fields and I luckily beached the car on grass verge.It had snapped on the taper just inside the flange.Another new shaft etc fitted!

So while doing abit of winter TLC I have taken off o/s shaft to check it out and yes the u/j cups are spinning in the inner flange, pushed them out by hand! Also a bit of play on hub/inner roller so I will be pulling it apart to investigate, hopefully not damaged shaft.

I have just looked at my MOT,s and have only done about 13000 miles in total, how did they keep going in period!! I should know really as I used to work at Lankesters Triumph in the early 70,s

rainbow

[Pete Lewis]

This sounds  bit bad luck i know fitting used shafts if you fit eg lh to a rh you can destroy th shaft eary a they have torsional memory and unwinding will induce cracks. 

Loose cups it probably down to wear and tear reckon  theres a limit on multiple rebuilds

Pete

[rainbow]

Always used to be careful when rallying anglia,s escorts etc not to mix shafts from one side to the other. As you say when you buy a new shaft you don,t get a new flange so who knows how old it is.

I realise i have put this post in the wrong place,should be under drivetrains, feel free to move me!

rainbow