This month's problem... the front OS driveshaft.
It started waggling* at 40mph a few months ago. So into our local garage it went. They got the driveshaft reconditioned by a specialist company elsewhere (new inner CV joint) and refitted.
It was fine for a bit, then it went waggly again. So back to the garage. The CV joint on the driveshaft (the reconditioned bit) had somehow shrugged off its gaiter and spewed grease all over the place. So it was re-re-conditioned and refitted.
Now, after a few hundred miles, it's waggling again.
Now the mechanic tells me he's used this company before and hasn't have a problem with them. My feeling is that we tell them to refund what they were paid and buy a new driveshaft instead.
I've read about the 40mph shake on other threads. I know where this fault is, as it's fine after it's reconditioned (for five minutes).
Is it possible that the driveshafts have been fine but there's something else wrong with the car that's shagging them all? Alternatively, is it possible that the shafts themselves are bent, so this is why it gets wrecked after being reconditioned? I'm struggling to understand this one.
Also, this is the wheel that was getting hot, which seemed to be the brake dragging. I'm still not sure about that either, but it isn't running hot now (at the moment anyway). Could a hot brake wreck a driveshaft? Surely brakes are meant to get hot? I would have expected the tyre to explode before the driveshaft got damaged - its CV joint is a long way from the brake disk.
The mechanic thinks that the Croma driveshaft is unique, not a Vectra one. Can anyone confirm or deny? If it's not a Vectra one then is there a chance it's a Signum one? I don't fancy Fiat dealer prices.
Alternatively, is there a discount Fiat parts supplier I could get one from?
We're almost at the tether end now - the other half wants to get rid of it. I just know it's a belter of a car when it works nicely, plus it's almost worthless to sell.
Help!
* "Waggling" is the best description I can come up with. When accelerating, it feels like it pulls left then right rapidly, so the car shakes from side to side. Passengers can feel it too. It's always at 35-45mph, only ever when accelerating. The harder I accelerate, the steeper the hill, or the more people on board, the more pronounced it is.
It started waggling* at 40mph a few months ago. So into our local garage it went. They got the driveshaft reconditioned by a specialist company elsewhere (new inner CV joint) and refitted.
It was fine for a bit, then it went waggly again. So back to the garage. The CV joint on the driveshaft (the reconditioned bit) had somehow shrugged off its gaiter and spewed grease all over the place. So it was re-re-conditioned and refitted.
Now, after a few hundred miles, it's waggling again.
Now the mechanic tells me he's used this company before and hasn't have a problem with them. My feeling is that we tell them to refund what they were paid and buy a new driveshaft instead.
I've read about the 40mph shake on other threads. I know where this fault is, as it's fine after it's reconditioned (for five minutes).
Is it possible that the driveshafts have been fine but there's something else wrong with the car that's shagging them all? Alternatively, is it possible that the shafts themselves are bent, so this is why it gets wrecked after being reconditioned? I'm struggling to understand this one.
Also, this is the wheel that was getting hot, which seemed to be the brake dragging. I'm still not sure about that either, but it isn't running hot now (at the moment anyway). Could a hot brake wreck a driveshaft? Surely brakes are meant to get hot? I would have expected the tyre to explode before the driveshaft got damaged - its CV joint is a long way from the brake disk.
The mechanic thinks that the Croma driveshaft is unique, not a Vectra one. Can anyone confirm or deny? If it's not a Vectra one then is there a chance it's a Signum one? I don't fancy Fiat dealer prices.
Alternatively, is there a discount Fiat parts supplier I could get one from?
We're almost at the tether end now - the other half wants to get rid of it. I just know it's a belter of a car when it works nicely, plus it's almost worthless to sell.
Help!
* "Waggling" is the best description I can come up with. When accelerating, it feels like it pulls left then right rapidly, so the car shakes from side to side. Passengers can feel it too. It's always at 35-45mph, only ever when accelerating. The harder I accelerate, the steeper the hill, or the more people on board, the more pronounced it is.