Hi All,

First and foremost, welcome to my thread and I hope that you are all well?
This is actually my first post, I'm a petrol head with Fiat GP 1.4 TJET, I work full time as an IT Consultant but enjoying spending my time, effort and wages on 'Bumble Bee'.

So, to provide a backbone to my query; when I purchased the car I suffered extreme handling issues. The rear wheel was buckled, the shock absorber was blown and tracking/alignment was out. I've rectified the buckled wheel and tracking/alignment, this weekend I took upon the task to address the suspension. Let me iterate further...

Summary:
I opted to replace all shocks, purchased the Stance+ Kit from Venom Motorsports. Also decided to replace the drop links with shorter ones and fit new top mounts too! So far so good... right? HOWEVER, it didn't last more than thirty second on the first test drive. Drivers side drive shaft popped out, bearings and needle rollers flew out along with gearbox oil.

Issue:
From what I can gather, now that I've lowered the car, it's become apparent that the driveshafts are 'too' short and can't handle the excessive strain.

Solution:
Hopefully you'll agree, but I presume longer drive shafts would rectify the issue as they will sit further in the cup and would then be under less strain. I'd suspect the length in the middle will need to be increased by 230-250mm and reinforced if possible?

At the moment, Plan A of restoring the car on standard shock absorbers, drop links and replacing this an original driveshaft isn't really a solution for me. It'd cost me in the region of £150-£200 and will defeat the purpose of the hours I spent changing them in the first place!

Looking for advice from others which may have experienced the similar issue.

• 
  How did you overcome this issue?

• 
  Did you fit the drive shafts yourself?

• 
  How much did the resolution cost?

Any other relevant information...


I've attached some photo(s) below for your reference and my vehicle details.


Vehicle Details:
Manafacturer: Fiat
Model: Grande Punto
Year: 2008

Thanks in advance, I look forward to your response(s)!

Hi and welcome to the forum

Whilst I can't answer your technical questions, I can tell you that - even though you only have 1 post - you can still use the attachment feature to upload pictures directly to the forum. This is actually preferred as it stops the pictures disappearing when the external host changes their URLs, etc.

Hi Eklipze,

Thank you!

Not a problem, your response was informative nonetheless - I've updated the post with images now.

Cheers.

I have heard about this happening but not experienced it myself, and mine is very low on shocks and cut springs.

You must have wound the coilovers all the way down surely?

Maybe some else knows a better fix but can you not just raise the coilovers up to a sensible height?

I'm not aware of anyone fitting longer driveshafts or that any are available.

Hi U33db,

Thanks for your response!

Originally I was running it without the front helper springs or rear adjusters, these have been re-fitted following the incident though.

I'm almost certain that the driveshafts are different on the TJET and the issue only occurs on this model. Lowering other models on Fiat GPs appear to be okay - I believe. Just my luck, eh?

I could heighten the adjusters and refit a standard driveshaft but I'm concerned it'll happen it no time at all. Plus, the idea behind height adjustable suspension is to low the ride height ever so slightly - otherwise I'd have fitted standard shock absorbers.

If it's not to cost expensive to replace the driveshafts with reinforced long ones , I'd rather opt down that route. Standard ones are £65 per piece.

Cheers.

You will only need a few mm extra length. to much and the tripod might hit the end of the cup, doing really bad damage.

You could easily get about 3-5 mm with a spacer on the splined shaft, between the wheel hub and the driveshaft... might go as much as 7mm .. as long as the ABS sensor still reads ok.

If you are careful i see no problems doing it this way.
You will need to measure the splined part of the driveshaft, and find somebody with a lathe to turn it.... or buy a cheap hub(~10-20 euro), and use a angle-grinder to cut off 2 slices as big as possible, then slowly grind them down, test, repeat.
Make sure there's no binding...and that there is still enough thread on the shaft to safely put on the nut and lock it.

You will need to make sure
Check the cup for wear, replace the tripod ~10-20 euro, and the boot, add new high temp grease.
If the cup didn't come out of the gearbox(as the picture suggests), you didn't loose any gearbox oil.

Hi Aurick,

Very informative response, thank you - much appreciated. I'll apologies for my ignorance but here is my proposed new thought....

The cup still remains attached to the gearbox, the tripod popped out (loosing the bearings and needle rollers with it). Also the CV boot tore itself to shreds.

So, from what you've advised... the existing drive shaft is still recoverable? I'm thinking that I should do the following:
- Remove the existing driveshaft from the hub of the car
- Fit a new tripod (would this come pre-fitted with the bearings and rollers?)
- Fit a new boot and re-grease (grease what exactly?)
FYI - there certainly was a an oily substance across the floor and over the tripod and components close by - not gearbox oil?

Then you suggest of a potential method of fitting 'spacers' to extend the driveshaft?

Hopefully you can confirm that is correct and advise where my knowledge is lacking...
However, a new standard driveshaft is only £65 so I'll need to weigh up the cost to repair the existing one. Do you know where I can source these replacement parts?

Found this diagram which is rather useful and informative.
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Cheers,

The one for 65 gbp.. are not the best quality.... i would think
Yes it is savable if you can get the tripod and the boot.

Red Line 80401 CV-2 Synthetic Grease - 14 oz. Jar by Red Line Oil: Amazon.co.uk: Car & Motorbike

I was not talking about wheel spacers. (hope that was obvious)
I was referring to custom made steel-bushings ..basically a ring, something like this.


The oil you have seen is probably the grease from the cup... grease sometimes separates in oil and thinker.

Hi Aurick,

True - maybe so. If it's cheaper to restore the current one then I may do that.. I'm having issues tracking down the relevant replacement parts though.

Haha, yes I know - I was just struggling to understand at what part of the driveshaft would these 'spacers' be fitted.

Well you would remove the driveshaft from the wheel side, then slide the spacer on that end of the shaft, then put it back in the hub, put the nut on.. and make sure it's still ok (enough threads left..and space to lock the nut).

You could check now.. with the car on the ground.. just check if there are enough threads left on the driveshaft ..should be visible through the wheel(post a picture as well).

For parts post the VIN, and somebody will check ePer, and give you the part numbers.

Interesting theory.. I'll have a look and post some photos.
I've located part numbers via ePer - will contact my local Fiat Dealership for the price(s).

Only catch for me is engineering/purchasing these spacers.

Thanks for all your help Aurick.

Worth keeping these guys in mind, they supplied a complete driveshaft for my Mk2b Punto for a very reasonable price - http://www.jandrcvjoints.co.uk/

DarkLight57 said:

Only catch for me is engineering/purchasing these spacers.

Click to expand...

That is why i mentioned buying a hub.. and cut the spacers from that, it doesn't need to be 100% perfect, an angle grinder would be good enough.

I am not sure it would work. but if it does it is much easier to do it that custom lengthened driveshafts... pretty much a DIY option and you can easily cut it bigger and sneak up on the exact size.

Cheers - Eklipse, That's spot on!

They don't appear to sell the Spider/Tripod joint/bearings individually though.

Only quoting £35 per driveshaft, although I know there are two (a shorter one which goes to the gearbox and a longer one). Not sure if it's the right one as no images...

Gotchya Aurick! All I take a look and see what I can do - certainly a cheaper, easier and customsiable option.

Now to find some hubs and get a quote back from Fiat for the replacement bits.

You could easily get 2 spacers from one hub. this could be the cheapest Chinese /aftermarket part in the world.

DarkLight57 said:

Cheers - Eklipse, That's spot on!

They don't appear to sell the Spider/Tripod joint/bearings individually though.

Only quoting £35 per driveshaft, although I know there are two (a shorter one which goes to the gearbox and a longer one). Not sure if it's the right one as no images...

Click to expand...

I think left hand is nearside, but best to contact them if in doubt.

Very true. If you manage to source one from the internet, please feel free to paste the URL and I'll get one on order! I'll keep an eye out too nonetheless.

T-Jet may be more susceptible to this issue as it is the only model to use the c510 gear box, this could have something to do with it.

I've got mine powered by about 15mm against a standard T-Jet on Kilen Sport Springs and Bilstein B4 shocks, handles great with forge braces and I've not had any issues. Out of interest, why do you want to drop it so far?

There was a guy on another forum who had shafts made for a silly bhp 500 and I think they were pushing £400 each if I remember right.

Cheers

Ben

Hi Ben D,

Thanks for your response. Maybe so. Do you have a photo of how low 15mm is?

I don't want to go ridiculously low but IMO it looks far nicer when the wheel fitment is better (ride height lower and wheel spacers) and generally drives a bit more 'planted' too.

Admittedly, I went a little overboard when I initially lowered it! If I can ascertain a safe height to go up to and just replace the drive shaft - so be it. It'll probably be more practical too.

Can you provide any photos?