(T) Driveshafted

I admit that I thought about this tool, but I didn't knew if it works. Now that I have the confirmation, I will buy one and use it when I will change the zip ties with some proper collars. Thank you Dave

Just got back off holiday to find the wobble is back!!!. If you are right and the grease has made a bid for freedom again it will be doubly reassuring if it goes away again if you "stuff it once more" and it goes away . I wait in anticipation!!

are people properly removing shaft from cup when re-greasing, or just pealing back the boot and shoving grease in?

Sorry but I can't help think that there is a fundamental problem with the Croma/Vectra etc. driveshaft setup.

Yes people have had boots seeping grease
Yes a new grease replenish and reseal appears to work ......... but for how long etc. seems to be vary variable problematic.

NEVER EVER on any Fiat I have ever owned, have knowledge of, worked on, etc. over the last 42 years, except for the Croma/GM setup have drive shafts, wobble, telly tubby, conservative, labour, liberal, etc issues been known to cause so much agro.

I'm at 66K + miles, have already had new drive shafts fitted, had no boot leaks prior to intial driveshaft replacement under warranty, currently have no boot leaks etc. but I'm far from happy with the noises and play in the driveshaft train, most of which is related to the inner tulip & spider couplings.

My advice is 1) accept the design is *ucked 2) prepare/save for the inevitable 3) avoid any GM engineering that Fiat picked up during their collaboration period. GM got the crown jewels (i.e. Fiat diesel, 16V, Mutlijet direct injection technology etc) Fiat got suckered into and Epsilon bag of bones and inferior design and quality and production garbage.

I think I can be 110% certain that no Fiat design or production engineer was ever involved in the decision, let alone the assessment of the GM 'content' that would be introduced into the Fiat model production.

The whole sad episode was accountant driven, director share holder value driven and a shed load of other "driven" tick marks that had nothing to do with longevity, reliability, etc.

I'm hoping that lessons have bean learnt and any Chrysler input back into the Fiat system will only be allowed if it genuinely address reliability, longevity, European performance standards etc.

As much as I love my Croma I do not wan't to have to worry about, tolerate, etc. another Fiat/GM/Croma experience ever again.

Hi S130- Have you any thoughts of what I wrote in #67 . Regarding the 2.2 being a different assembly around the "tulip" and that it could be Fiat and the diesels Vauxcrap?

A further update - ours got waggly as I noted previously. Now re-greased and it's smooth again.

I'm wondering now whether ours ever actually needed replacing. Perhaps the original waggle was just a lack of grease. Worth a try for anyone else with the same issue.

Unfortunately the garage didn't renew the boot - it did get a new one when originally replaced though. I'm thinking that either the new one is split or it's not being sealed on properly. We'll see...

Sorry to tarquin. I see I never responded to this post.

I've looked at the parts slides and the assemblies are totally different between the 1.9 and 2.2 engines.

It is difficult to say if the 2.2 shaft is a Fiat design or not. 2.2 is GM petrol engine and the gearbox is a Getrag F32 ( ) which is German and mainly fitted to GM cars.

All very confusing

If this doesn`t prove that the grease is the X factor in the whole 40 wobble saga you have now proved it beyond all doubt to me.
I have also just been thinking of why the amount of grease is specified by Fiat.
If you are putting a new gaiter on the Tulip then you have to take the spider off to fit the small end of the gaiter onto the shaft. If you were unaware of the specified amount you wold naturally just stuff the gaiter full of grease and slide the spider bck into the tulip and stuff some more grease in the open end of the tulip behind the spider.When the gaiter is the secured over the open end of the tulip you have a "sealed chamber" effect and movement of the spider inside the Tulip during cornering will lead to a build up of pressure inside the gaiter , rather like a n old bicycle pump when you hold your finger over the outlet ( yes I am so old).
If the grease is pressurised in this manner it will find a way of escaping , there will also be some centrifugal force thrown into the mix as well so its obvious to my mind how easy it is for the grease to get out.