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Technical Replacing (or repairing) driveshafts

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Technical Replacing (or repairing) driveshafts

quaffle

quaffle

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Hey guys,

So both my inner CV boots are leaking (inner = near the gear box).

I have a Hayne's manual but how difficult are they to get off the car? From my experience, the Hayne's manual makes things look quite simple but then everything is rusted together and it become a massive job.

Am I better off replacing the entire drive shafts (about £60–£70 each) or just replacing the inner CV joints and boots (about £30 each)? What do you think would be the better option (assuming I can get the driveshafts off the car initially)?

Any thoughts or tips would be appreciated.
 
What do you mean "the boots are leaking"? There is grease inside the boots, so it wouldn't be proper leaking. If is oil that you have leaking, it is the gearbox oil and you have the seals broken, next to the boots. The tricky part is that you have to unmount the gearbox and open it in order to get to the seals. The good part is that Mr. Wild here taught us very nice how to do that:
https://www.fiatforum.com/punto-ii/158346-input-shaft-bearing-renewal.html
That post should be made sticky!
If the boots are indeed what you need to change, I say this youtube video shows us how to make that job very easy:
https://youtu.be/iLrGNU_t83Y
You did not say what car do you have, usually I know that Fiat have the CV joints in just one piece, you cannot change just inner or outer joint, it comes all off. But maybe Fiat introduced the multiple parts CV joints and you have that on your car. You'll have to check first.
The classic way of changing CV joints is done by first getting the oil out of the gearbox, then dismounting the joint at the wheel's end (by taking the wheel off and disconnecting all that is to disconnect) and then taking the joint out of the gearbox.
If you have the tools and are a little bit handy, you should be able to do the job.
 
Mike1alike said:
What do you mean "the boots are leaking"? There is grease inside the boots, so it wouldn't be proper leaking. If is oil that you have leaking, it is the gearbox oil and you have the seals broken, next to the boots.
Click to expand...
I mean that the boots are worn and have developed a tear and the grease is coming out of them.

Mike1alike said:
If the boots are indeed what you need to change, I say this youtube video shows us how to make that job very easy:
https://youtu.be/iLrGNU_t83Y
You did not say what car do you have, usually I know that Fiat have the CV joints in just one piece, you cannot change just inner or outer joint, it comes all off. But maybe Fiat introduced the multiple parts CV joints and you have that on your car. You'll have to check first.
The classic way of changing CV joints is done by first getting the oil out of the gearbox, then dismounting the joint at the wheel's end (by taking the wheel off and disconnecting all that is to disconnect) and then taking the joint out of the gearbox.
If you have the tools and are a little bit handy, you should be able to do the job.
Click to expand...
I have a 1.2 L 16v 2003 Active Sport. I guess I just need to wait for a sunny day and have a go then. I really don't want to use those glue-up boots though. I've used one before and it didn't last very long. Only problem is the whole CV axle has to be dissembled to do it properly.
 
Last edited:
if they are only slightly torn then most likely they only need new boots.


If you want to get the drive shafts out it is much easier if you can raise the car as high as possible so you can properly use a pry bar. Alternatively perhaps with somebody to help you it is possible to hammer the cup with a long screwdriver. Unless you can get properly positioned for levering them out they can be a mother to pop out. Sometimes mine have popped out with a pry bar so easily i have wondered why people say it is difficult............other times the longer one has been a total pig to get out and I have hammered it out with the long screwdriver passing under the exhaust. With a helper that would be relatively easy I think. You hammer in a very similar place to where you try to pry out.


Then you have put them back in which is never totally easy. you need to have the car very high to enable you to get a good pull on them so when the shaft is against the limit of movement inwards you can use your body to overcome the spring clip or is it the oil seal maybe? If you try to slide the drive shaft in one movement so you reach the limit of movement and hope to get the spring clip correctly lined up, you will most surely mess up the spring clip. I have always reused the same clip. Sometimes I have had to put the short end back together at the wheel so there is that extra tension inwards before i have been able to pull the shaft into the gearbox - but could be a mistake on my part as the last time I found it easy to pull them in by being fully positioned under the car and able to get my arms correctly positioned.

If you do it, you have to be mindful the clip can easily get twisted if you dont have a constant force inwards. you cant do it suddenly. And if it will not go in you have to be ready to take it out and check the position of that clip!

Thats my 2 cents. many have tried and failed or decided never again.
 
Last edited:
judderbar said:
if they are only slightly torn then most likely they only need new boots.


If you want to get the drive shafts out it is much easier if you can raise the car as high as possible so you can properly use a pry bar. Alternatively perhaps with somebody to help you it is possible to hammer the cup with a long screwdriver. Unless you can get properly positioned for levering them out they can be a mother to pop out. Sometimes mine have popped out with a pry bar so easily i have wondered why people say it is difficult............other times the longer one has been a total pig to get out and I have hammered it out with the long screwdriver passing under the exhaust. With a helper that would be relatively easy I think. You hammer in a very similar place to where you try to pry out.


Then you have put them back in which is never totally easy. you need to have the car very high to enable you to get a good pull on them so when the shaft is against the limit of movement inwards you can use your body to overcome the spring clip or is it the oil seal maybe? If you try to slide the drive shaft in one movement so you reach the limit of movement and hope to get the spring clip correctly lined up, you will most surely mess up the spring clip. I have always reused the same clip. Sometimes I have had to put the short end back together at the wheel so there is that extra tension inwards before i have been able to pull the shaft into the gearbox - but could be a mistake on my part as the last time I found it easy to pull them in by being fully positioned under the car and able to get my arms correctly positioned.

If you do it, you have to be mindful the clip can easily get twisted if you dont have a constant force inwards. you cant do it suddenly. And if it will not go in you have to be ready to take it out and check the position of that clip!

Thats my 2 cents. many have tried and failed or decided never again.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tips.

Haynes manual says to undo the two bolts connecting the swivel hub to the shock absorber in order to get them out as well as the tie rod end ball joint.

Can I get away with just undoing the tie rod end ball joint?
 
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