Being provided with conflicting advice. The front Coupling to the Propshaft grease seal (boot!) has failed. Can you replace the Coupling (appears to be similar at the rear of the Propshaft as well) or do you have to replace the WHOLE Propshaft assembly including the front & rear couplings & centre bearing.
Also is it dangerous to continue driving with grease oozing out of the Coupling (will it eventually dry up & seeze up?)?:

Hi

Biggest thing is to replace the gaiter

Keeping Grease in and Grit out

Charlie

It won't dry and seize-up but you will get moisture and grit in there that will eventually ruin the bearings.

It will just be a rubber boot/gaiter change; not the whole prop assembly!

Thanks for the advice, should save a few hundred quid or in main dealers case over a thousand quid!
Next problem is to source a boot/gaiter, although a new coupling is not that expensive!
:bang:

Interesting to hear that the boot has failed. Was it caused by impact, do you know?

Kim's Panda - you dont say where you are based, but someone on here may know of a good Italian car specialist near you that you could approach.

MaxHeadroom said:

Kim's Panda - you dont say where you are based, but someone on here may know of a good Italian car specialist near you that you could approach.

Click to expand...

Kims Panda

The gaiter type that are slit down one edge.. and you glue it shut once fitted tend to last a couple of years

@£15 but tool free and means you can keep driving through the soggy season

We are in Huddersfield......Covid Tier Two!
Thanks for the advice on the gaiter.
Not sure how it has failed as it was discovered during an MOT & they described it as "boot severely deteriorated" & our mechanic discovered the split under the grease.
Following earlier advice have already packed the coupling around the gaiter with extra grease....so thanks again.
Told again today that you cannot repair these propshafts & the whole installation needs to be replaced!....This was talking to a Propshaft Clinic in Leeds who carry out all sorts of repairs to propshafts!

Further advice outside the Forum has suggested trying a 'puncture repair kit' on the gaiter & if I can get at it easily enough & clean it it could be worth a shot....any thoughts on this idea?:devil:

Getting anything to 'stick' could be tricky

If its split.. possibly through ageing..
Then it will be almost impossible to make a lasting repair.


I dont know how it is supposed to look.. but if it is similar to the CV boots.. then that would be the obvious option

Hmmm would be a heck of a degreasing job prior to getting anything to stick.
A quality superglue applied in small stages over a period of time ...if its degreased enough might work. But as always trying to stick what is essentially a tube when you're working only on the outside of it is always going to be difficult.
Other adhesive to consider is Polyurethane adhesive but it would be messy and again, probably difficult to apply than superglue in this instance

Here is potentially your best 'temporary repair'

https://www.amazon.co.uk/QUALITY-SPLIT-GAITER-REPAIR-instructions/dp/B00LC97DJ4

Kims Panda

The prop shaft is the same for the latest and previous (169, 2003-2012) models. Although Fiat want over £1500 for a complete new shaft, there are others out there for around the £350 mark, which might prove to be the least expensive fix. A UK supplier tends to use eBay to sell them, so worth a search there...

Edit: see here https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PROPSHAF...622372?hash=item4b34d06f24:g:M4MAAOSwHYVaX2fQ

Or even cheaper from a German supplier via Amazon UK! https://www.amazon.co.uk/Germany-Ka...e=35-483&replacementKeywords=propshaft&sr=8-2

MaxHeadroom said:

It will just be a rubber boot/gaiter change; not the whole prop assembly!

Click to expand...

Sadly, it is more likely a whole shaft replacement, as the unit is all in one piece and the seal (which is located inside the housing, not a boot over the outside) cannot be removed separately (or so I have always been led to believe. Same with the centre support bearing -- you can buy the bearing, but can't fit it as you cannot take the shaft to pieces, at least, not as a DIY job)

Beginning to look like a complete propshaft in due course, but shall keep that coupling gaiter well greased in the meantime.
Checking the gaiters they all appear to be for Drive Shafts!
Fiat have still not replied to my query (nothing new there), but as many have observed a complete new propshaft can be purchased reasonably & I have seen them for £200-£300 on eBay & Amazon plus fitting of course.
Many thanks for every ones contributions.

Good luck with it. and please, do let us know how this was resolved in the end