Drive shafts (for 1973)

[aston]

My project came without drive shafts so I need to get some.
I think my choices are..

1. Buy new, £££££££
2. Buy some remanufactured by GKN, ££££
3. Buy some used ones and refurb myself, ££

What's the general consensus here, is it just the CV joints that wear?
Is it just better to bite the bullet and go for option 1 or 2?

Anyone got experience of remanufacture GKN units?



Thanks.

[911hillclimber]

Gary71 on here is THE man on re-building shafts and the option, he will be along soon I think.

The CV can wear, the shafts I think are bomb+ proof.

Good correct GKN CV grease is very important.

[Gary71]

I hate the bloody things! Worst job on the car

Used are an unknown quantity so you may invest in new gaiters grease etc then find they are noisy/sloppy and have to start again.

They might be expensive but go new first time out for the joints.

Option 4 is to buy new replacement joints from Dave Mac Propshafts in Coventry and put them on used shafts if you can find some.

[ian cox]

Hi Kieran,
During the rebuild of my 1970 2.2S I bought 2 new ones after the originals had had been cleaned and powder coated.
I still have the 2 shafts.
Are you interested as part of a solution to your problem?
I fact I will have an end of project sell off very soon.
Kind regards Ian

[aston]

Hi Gary - thanks for the advice. Is fitting new joints to shafts an easy job?

I asked this seller about these and he says they are remanufactured by GKN, do you have any experience of them ?

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Hi Ian - I'll contact Dave Mac Propshafts tomorrow and get some prices. How much do you want for your shafts ?

I've got a long list of parts I need so I'd like to speak to you about any spares you've got.

Thanks.

[Gary71]

Joints are easy to get on and off. Just one circlip on the end . Use either big external circlip pliers or two small sharp screwdrivers and patience.

[haasad]

Dave Mac is very helpful and the right price. When rebuilding your own the oririentation of the joint inner race is important. They will arrive correctly assembled, if they come apart or are taken apart to help fitting be aware that the race fits one way . ( unhelpfully I can't remember the feature which identifies correct orientation. Also dry fit any new joint onto the shaft , the spine clearnce needs to be a nice tight slide with very little clearance unless yoiu can tolerate a clunky forward to reverse in your drive train.

This isn't a difficult job to do by the way just needs understanding and as Gary says patience.

[Gary71]

If they come apart it's like one of those impenetrable brain teasers to get all the balls back in and the joint being free to articulate. You get there eventually, but it's never the first way you try, or the second, or the third...

[911hillclimber]

Yes, many a happy hour trying to sort them out. I lost the way on two of my Lola CV's, sent me to the funny farm, never quite recovered...