Drive shaft flexible coupling mot fail

[dptt]

Hi all. My skoda fabia 1.2 ambiente 2007 petrol , with 118 000 miles just failed the mot.

The details are both front drive shaft " flexible couplings" . I ve been doing a lot more on my car to save money but am very much learning on the job having done steering pumps , brakes and services myself . Never yet addressed a drive shaft .

My question is , are these couplings easily replaceable . Someone mentioned this means I need to replace the whole driveshaft which seems incorrect as they didn't highlight an issue with it !

Any advice re replacement appreciated .

I will update with pictures asap when I can get under the car

Thanks in advance

 

[Mottie]

Driveshaft flexible couplings? I haven’t seen flexible couplings on driveshafts on cars for about 40 years.

 

[Burnerman]

I guess it's the outer CV joints that you are referring to? The term flexible coupling is a new one on me.
If so, then it is possible just to replace the joint, leaving the driveshaft connected to the gearbox.
The CV's connect to the driveshaft splines (which allow tiny movements in and out to deal with the suspension and steering) and they connect by a 'snap ring' - a basic circlip that disengages when the CV is tapped clear with a hammer.
In a nutshell it's bottom swivel joint disconnected, driveshaft nut undone and the hub pulled out of the way.
This allows the CV joint to be disengaged from the driveshaft.
John

 

[Burnerman]

Hell, the last flexible coupling I saw was on a Citroen Traction Avant
John
Edit......Hillman Imp rubber doughnuts - don't mess with them with the holding band undone
J.

 

[dptt]

I guess it's the outer CV joints that you are referring to? The term flexible coupling is a new one on me.
If so, then it is possible just to replace the joint, leaving the driveshaft connected to the gearbox.
The CV's connect to the driveshaft splines (which allow tiny movements in and out to deal with the suspension and steering) and they connect by a 'snap ring' - a basic circlip that disengages when the CV is tapped clear with a hammer.
In a nutshell it's bottom swivel joint disconnected, driveshaft nut undone and the hub pulled out of the way.
This allows the CV joint to be disengaged from the driveshaft.
John

Thanks , yes it states on the mot failure " drive shaft flexible coupling excessively deteriorated near side and offside front (6.1.7(d)(i). " I think it sounds like this does mean the cv joint but obviously their mot description isn't helpful ! Thanks for this

 

[dptt]

Hell, the last flexible coupling I saw was on a Citroen Traction Avant
John
Edit......Hillman Imp rubber doughnuts - don't mess with them with the holding band undone
J.

Lol thanks I think they need to make these mot codes more user friendly !

 

[dptt]

Driveshaft flexible couplings? I haven’t seen flexible couplings on driveshafts on cars for about 40 years.

This explains why I've been struggling to get anywhere - thanks for the reply looks like the mot centre is using unhelpful descriptions of the issue

 

[Burnerman]

An obvious failure of the CV joint is a split rubber boot ( black grease splattered everywhere) and a clacking noise when turning on full steering lock.
Looking forward to some pics if you can.
John

 

[Mottie]

What is the EXACT wording on the mot failure sheet?

 

[Mottie]

Thanks , yes it states on the mot failure " drive shaft flexible coupling excessively deteriorated near side and offside front (6.1.7(d)(i). " I think it sounds like this does mean the cv joint but obviously their mot description isn't helpful ! Thanks for this

That normally means excess play in a CV joint but I don’t think I’ve never seen that, at least not with a gaiter that’s not been split for ages and spewed all the grease out. CV boots are not mentioned are they? For that to be 'excessive' I would think that it would be making a right racket and I’d imagine you would hear it. I’d either go back and ask them to point it out or take it elsewhere for a second opinion.

 

[robinbanks]

Careful with your driveshaft joints; they're a complex arrangement of ball bearings and short channels for them to run up and down, kept together with a retaining ring.. If you pull it too hard it can all drop to bits, and reassembling it is a bit of a krypton factor challenge..

 

[Mottie]

Careful with your driveshaft joints; they're a complex arrangement of ball bearings and short channels for them to run up and down, kept together with a retaining ring.. If you pull it too hard it can all drop to bits, and reassembling it is a bit of a krypton factor challenge..

Absolutely no chance! It’s easy to strip down a cv joint when it’s off the shaft if you know what you are doing but you'd NEVER pull one apart accidentally trying to get it off the shaft no matter how brutal you were with it.

See here from just before the 10 minute mark although this bloke is taking 20 times longer than you need to!

 

[Burnerman]

I’m not sure what Robin means here.....
I’ve never had a problem stripping and reassembling CV’s, barring the filthy black grease of course!
John

 

[dptt]

What is the EXACT wording on the mot failure sh

 

[dptt]

That normally means excess play in a CV joint but I don’t think I’ve never seen that, at least not with a gaiter that’s not been split for ages and spewed all the grease out. CV boots are not mentioned are they? For that to be 'excessive' I would think that it would be making a right racket and I’d imagine you would hear it. I’d either go back and ask them to point it out or take it elsewhere for a second opinion.

Thanks , I will jack it up tomorrow in daylight and have a good look ..cv boots were not mentioned at all , so yes very confusing . Previously mechanics have always said clearly if it's the cv boot - so not sure what they're meaning ..I will update with photos tomorrow and hopefully work it out . There's no noise it's driving fine