Hi All,

I have worn inner joints on my 2006 1.9JTD 8v (65,000 miles) and require 2 new drive shafts, had real problems finding any in the UK (FIAT want £300+ per side and order from Italy).
Does anyone know if there are any GM parts/part no's that will fit? no doubt readily available and cheap as chips (in comparason).

Cheers,
Greg

Greg,

I have not used this company myself but they might be worth a try, they can recondition your old units. Let us know if you have any joy. Incidentally looking through previous posts on this this forum you are not the first to suffer from the poor driveshaft design on these cars.

http://www.driveshaftuk.com/

Another possible, http://www.driveshaftstore.co.uk/, eper has the shafts as croma only, no other fiat makes or models.

would vectra ones not fit? seems most other bits will

I'd personally take a chance on getting some (returnable) Vectra ones for the equivalent engine - it's very likely they'll be right. I'm pretty sure that everything from the engine to the wheels (including the suspension) is 100% GM. That would also explain why, as Keithglos says, they aren't the same as any other Fiat.

If you take it to a garage then they'll be able to order in the correct ones within an hour if they're not right, then return the Vectra ones.

You should save a good few £££s by getting Vectra ones though. A bit of googling should find them.

Thanks for the info guy's.

After reading another post on the forum I am now concerned that as the shafts have play/movement at the point of entry to the gearbox/diff (forgive me, I am not that technical) that it could be a gearbox replacement? (Sounds horrendously expensive to me).
Again from anothe post, it would appear that the 6 speed manual gearboxes on the Croma are GM and I would therefore assume (rightly or wrongly) that the drive shafts would follow suit.
Think i may have to get a second opinion on the problem and take from there.

Please keep any relevant information coming my way, part No's for GM driveshafts/gearbox etc.

Many Thanks,
Greg

What makes you think they need replacing?

Mine started making weird noises at the front, I jacked it up and found I could waggle the NS driveshaft with my hand, so took it to the garage. The tyres were due for replacing - the garage said there was play in the driveshaft but it wasn't excessive. Their theory was that the tyre had worn out of balance and changing it would cure it. Months later, all is still fine.

By the way, I'd recommend this garage (preparing for gasps from others)...

http://www.halfordsautocentres.com/

Yes, I know it's Halfords, but it's what was Nationwide Autocentres (Halfords took over about a year ago). The reason I found them good was this...

http://www.halfords.com/wcsstore/li...ucher_Offers.pdf?cm_re=Hero-_-Right-_-voucher

The important voucher is the bottom one - a free check. The other good thing about this company is that they're happy to fit tyres bought online.

They test-drove mine, fitted my two new tyres, swapped front-rear then 2nd test drive. The total bill was... £10 inc VAT.

Hi Doofer,

Recently did a 2 thousand mile round trip to Scotland and on way home noticed the vehicle "shaking" at around 40-50mph (happens in all gears and is not shaking at steering wheel). Recently had new front tyres fitted so took back for a rebalance to check, all wheels balanced fine.
Decided to check the drive shafts and found a noticable amount of movement at the inner joint (side to side movement where shaft enters gearbox), also now noticing a whrrring noise in 6th gear.
Being no mechanic by any stretch of the imagination myself, I looked on the forum and it seems a number of people have had the same problem resulting in drive shaft replacement. Although I have also read that on occassion the bearing? where the driveshaft enters the gearbox can collapse causing the same symptom.
This seems to require gearbox replacement.

Incedently have found driveshafts for a Vectra C (Still not 100% sure they will fit) for £88 each.

Cheers,
Greg

I have had two driveshafts on the left side. The first replacement was replaced by my local dealer under parts warranty. Fiat do a reworked shaft and it is about £130 and are in stock in the UK.