Leaking Driveshaft

[STRBramley]

While I was fitting my new ball joint last week I had the shocks and ball joint disconnected so the drive shaft came out and oil started leaking quite badly.
It also seems to be leaking quite alot once the shock and ball joint were back on.

Does anyone know what could have caused this? Is it the rubber that has come loose or a more serious problem?
Also, if it is the rubber will I just need to reseal it and what oil will need topping up?

I posted this in my original thread about the ball joint but I thought a new thread for this problem would be better.


Also, I'm going to pick up a decent jack and some axle stands at the weekend. Can anyone recommend any?

 

[edde]

Ok you've broken the driveshaft gailter seal the problem is thats not driveshaft oil thats gearbox oil so get it toppeed up now. Then go buy a new shaft.

Its been damaged as you've pulled it out you might be able to fit it depends what wrong.

 

[Chri5]

Is it grease from inside the rubber boot? Or gearbox oil? Although saying that, it looks dry and clean around the hole the shaft goes into the gear box.

If grease is coming out of the boot, you'll need to check if its simply lost its cable tie/wire that keeps it sealed at the end or whether its actually split. In which case you'll need a new boot for it

 

[STRBramley]

If you look really closely at the picture you can see a constant stream of oil (I would say gearbox oil) coming from that rubber gaiter.

It seems like oil tbh. How much is a boot/what is a boot? Sorry I'm not more technical.

 

[DannyR]

No grease that side of that shaft, it's gearbox oil.

 

[Chri5]

Oh yeah, it is gearbox oil, wasnt thinking! The boot is the black rubber "case" that holds the oil/grease inside. Not sure whether you can buy the boot seperately for that or whether its a new shaft like edde said?

 

[STRBramley]

Oh yeah, it is gearbox oil, wasnt thinking! The boot is the black rubber "case" that holds the oil/grease inside. Not sure whether you can buy the boot seperately for that or whether its a new shaft like edde said?

Is this what I would need if it is split?

So I should check if the metal clip has come off or if the actual rubber is ripped. If it is the clip then thats not too bad I suppose.
Where do I top up the gearbox oil? and when oil do I use?

Thanks for all the help everyone.

 

[DannyR]

Yea think new shaft only, wouldn't buy a cheap one of eBay. See if Renault do one, if they don't then you need a driveshaft

 

[STRBramley]

Ok cheer. If I just want to top up my oil I should just follow this guide from step four?

 

[DannyR]

Yes but if you fill it up with a leak it will come out again!

 

[STRBramley]

Yes but if you fill it up with a leak it will come out again!

Ok thanks. I'll get it up at the weekend and see whats going on. My jack snapped so I'm after some axle stands and a good jack. Can anyone recommend any?
I've seen this which looks pretty good to me.

 

[Chip-mk1]

Is this what I would need if it is split?

So I should check if the metal clip has come off or if the actual rubber is ripped. If it is the clip then thats not too bad I suppose.
Where do I top up the gearbox oil? and when oil do I use?

Thanks for all the help everyone.

Thats the outer joint gaitor, you need the inner one.

gearbox oil is topped up till it reaches the level plug on the front of the box


get some 75w80 oil but bear in mind when you take the shaft out to replace the gaitor pretty much all the oil is going to come out, so dont put any in first, just dont drive it until you fix it (if possible)

 

[STRBramley]

Thats the outer joint gaitor, you need the inner one.

gearbox oil is topped up till it reaches the level plug on the front of the box


get some 75w80 oil but bear in mind when you take the shaft out to replace the gaitor pretty much all the oil is going to come out, so dont put any in first, just dont drive it until you fix it (if possible)

Thanks mate.

I'll get some at the weekend and hopefully fix this. Luckily I don't really need the car atm but its still a big inconvenience.

 

[Chri5]

If you're doing that, try and jack it up on the left side as much as possible to minimise the amount of oil pi$$ing out

 

[bmh.01]

The replacement gaitor kits are £50 from renault for the inner on that side. Although if you've made the mistake of damaging it in the first place it might be a bit over your head to change one as its not straightforward.

 

[STRBramley]

The replacement gaitor kits are £50 from renault for the inner on that side. Although if you've made the mistake of damaging it in the first place it might be a bit over your head to change one as its not straightforward.

Yeah I'm hoping its just the connector that has come loose.

 

[old_jalopy]

Double check you have seated the retaining ring correctly. I can see from the picture that its been refitted, but make sure all 3 bolts are tight. You can tell if its leaking here, as the oil trail will drip down the gearbox.

If oil is trickling down the shaft itself, its more than likely the rotating part of the boot is leaking - either a Renault only part or new driveshaft depending on the availability of the boot

 

[STRBramley]

Double check you have seated the retaining ring correctly. I can see from the picture that its been refitted, but make sure all 3 bolts are tight. You can tell if its leaking here, as the oil trail will drip down the gearbox.

If oil is trickling down the shaft itself, its more than likely the rotating part of the boot is leaking - either a Renault only part or new driveshaft depending on the availability of the boot

Which part is the retaining ring? If its the part on the gearbox then that never came off? So that would mean it should be the rotating part?

 

[MartinR]

i done the same the other month whilst doing my ball joints all you would have done is popped the gator out of the bearing/oilseal/plastic cap on the shaft (at the small end of the gator) all i did was remove the shaft cut off the old retaining clip push the gator back into the bearing/seal/cap and fiited a new retaining clip and re filled the box. you can use a jubilee clip but it needs to be between 5-7mm wide or it will not sit right and will keep sliding the gator off when you tighten it.

the retaining ring mentioned above is the metal part that clamps the large end of the gator to the box and it does'nt rotate. you don't need a new shaft if the gator has just popped just do the above.

did the oil go over you're driveway?? i wrecked my drive about 2 litres of box oil not good

 

[STRBramley]

i done the same the other month whilst doing my ball joints all you would have done is popped the gator out of the bearing/oilseal/plastic cap on the shaft (at the small end of the gator) all i did was remove the shaft cut off the old retaining clip push the gator back into the bearing/seal/cap and fiited a new retaining clip and re filled the box. you can use a jubilee clip but it needs to be between 5-7mm wide or it will not sit right and will keep sliding the gator off when you tighten it.

the retaining ring mentioned above is the metal part that clamps the large end of the gator to the box and it does'nt rotate. you don't need a new shaft if the gator has just popped just do the above.

did the oil go over you're driveway?? i wrecked my drive about 2 litres of box oil not good

Thanks mate that seems to be what has happened. I'll check it out this weekend.

My drive is all stones so the oil doesn't show up to bad luckily.

 

[Fred@BTM]

just push it back on (you will have to remove the entire shaft to do so), job done

 

[STRBramley]

Well I had the car up today and as you can see from the image below the rubber has come off at the bottom. The next image shows the clip I had to remove which I need to replace.
Can anyone tell me where I can get one of these clips. It was a pain to remove. Can't I just use a large cable tie? lol

 

[Chip-mk1]

cable tie isnt strong enough but if you want a quick fix you can use a jubilee

 

[MartinR]

cable tie isnt strong enough but if you want a quick fix you can use a jubilee

yes provideing the width is no more than 7mm wide or it shall just keep pulling the boot off as you tighten it up

 

[STRBramley]

yes provideing the width is no more than 7mm wide or it shall just keep pulling the boot off as you tighten it up

Damn, just fitted this. It did keep slipping off but the third time it went on. Where can I get the thinner ones from?

Once I've got that then I just need to refill oil which looks a pain.

 

[DannyR]

Refilling is easy!

Go to somewhere that sells washing machines and ask for the pipe that connects water mains I machine with the little plastic end which screws onto the machine.

Then cut that off and the little plastic tube left on the end fits perfectly in the gearbox refill hole. Then just get a funnel!

 

[MartinR]

or just get a bit of hose pipe and a funnel undo the plastic wingnut on the front of the box wedge in pipe and tip oil in,

here is what you need but you need a crimping tool to fit it.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CV-BOOT-C...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item5644e15b8e

 

[STRBramley]

or just get a bit of hose pipe and a funnel undo the plastic wingnut on the front of the box wedge in pipe and tip oil in,

here is what you need but you need a crimping tool to fit it.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CV-BOOT-C...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item5644e15b8e

Thanks for all the info and help everyone. I'm going to get a smaller jubilee clip tomorrow and cut down some hosepipe.

 

[DannyR]

or just get a bit of hose pipe and a funnel undo the plastic wingnut on the front of the box wedge in pipe and tip oil in,

here is what you need but you need a crimping tool to fit it.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CV-BOOT-C...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item5644e15b8e

The bit I suggested is a hose, just with a perfect end to fit in the box

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WASHING-M...cessories_ET&hash=item4ab146e835#ht_500wt_922

Just cut the red ends off and you have perfect spout to poke in, a hose will not fit in the hole!

 

[MartinR]

my hose pipe fits:S and i have dipped it a fair few times

 

[STRBramley]

Well its all done now. Thanks for all the advice everyone. I used a hose pipe and cut the end to make it into a nozzle and taped it up. Did the job nicely.

I couldn't find a thinner hose clip so I got the grinder on one side of the clip to get it to 7mm. :rasp:

 

[STRBramley]

Just been for a test drive and everything seems good. No leaks.
Pooped it a little when I got in the car and my clutch just sank to the floor. Knocked the cable out by accident. So I had to take filter off again while struggling stopping the wind blowing my bonnet up.

 

[MartinR]

glad you got it sorted mate

 

[STRBramley]

Thought this was sorted. Just jacked my car up to give the front wheel abit of a refurb and noticed the bigger clip was just hanging around doing nothing. :S

New driveshaft time or is it not a problem? It isn't leaking so I don't know.

 

[Fred@BTM]

Well I had the car up today and as you can see from the image below the rubber has come off at the bottom. The next image shows the clip I had to remove which I need to replace.
Can anyone tell me where I can get one of these clips. It was a pain to remove. Can't I just use a large cable tie? lol

you've created yourself work there, no need to remove that clip, if you'd unbolted the gaitor from the box and removed the driveshaft you could've simply pushed it back on without the need for a new clip

 

[STRBramley]

you've created yourself work there, no need to remove that clip, if you'd unbolted the gaitor from the box and removed the driveshaft you could've simply pushed it back on without the need for a new clip

Damn :S

What about the bigger clip then? Because that has actually come unclipped.

 

[STRBramley]

Damn :S

What about the bigger clip then? Because that has actually come unclipped.

Also, here is the results of the refurb after my car fell on my alloy!

Before:

After:

 

[MartinR]

Damn :S

What about the bigger clip then? Because that has actually come unclipped.

re grease using the correct one can't remember what the nam of its called,and whack a big jubilee clip on.

 

[johnny182]

If you do need a new drive shaft Renault do an exchange basis as you cant get them anywhere else and of the top of ma head think its around £90 for a swap. Mine was leaking a bit then started to make the car judder when pottering along the road.

 

[STRBramley]

re grease using the correct one can't remember what the nam of its called,and whack a big jubilee clip on.

Thanks. Know where I can get a jubilee clip of that length and thickness?

If you do need a new drive shaft Renault do an exchange basis as you cant get them anywhere else and of the top of ma head think its around £90 for a swap. Mine was leaking a bit then started to make the car judder when pottering along the road.

This would be better?