Drive shaft flexible coupling mot fail

[dptt]

Will add photos tomorrow when I can get it jacked up cheers

 

[robinbanks]

Absolutely no chance!

We must be picturing different things; I know for certain I could hold a Volvo S60 driveshaft in my hands, one hand on the gearbox end splines and one hand on the middle and move my hands apart, stretching the box end CV gaiter and the joint would fall to bits, ball bearings lolling around inside the gaiter. Putting it back together is easy for me now, but chiefly because I stripped the gaiter off and videod the joint coming apart the first time I did it..

It's easy to make a mistake and pull them too far during the process of getting the shaft off the car, and tricky to get them back together especially if you don't see it come apart

 

[Mottie]

We must be picturing different things; I know for certain I could hold a Volvo S60 driveshaft in my hands, one hand on the gearbox end splines and one hand on the middle and move my hands apart, stretching the box end CV gaiter and the joint would fall to bits, ball bearings lolling around inside the gaiter. Putting it back together is easy for me now, but chiefly because I stripped the gaiter off and videod the joint coming apart the first time I did it..

It's easy to make a mistake and pull them too far during the process of getting the shaft off the car, and tricky to get them back together especially if you don't see it come apart

Never seen that happen with a 6 ball CV joint. Seen it happen plenty of times with the three pronged tripod type joint though. They just push back in, often without having to remove the cv boot. Was it one of these:

 

[robinbanks]

Take a look at the end of

- the same shaft; you can see if he lifts it another half inch it will all come apart

Not the technique I use to get mine back together; I do it horizontally with the shaft in line, no hammer required

Maybe the Fabia's shafts are different- I thought they were all like this to allow a bit of end float in the shaft as the suspension moves around

 

[dptt]

Hi all

Finally spoken to the garage again..they state it is the " cv gator " which from what you folks have described is the rubber containing the grease around the cv joint . Having looked online the parts are cheap - and it seems it's only this " gator " or " boot" which would need replacing . Garage want 400 quid , so ...do I need any special tools ? I have all the usual basics and big hands and forearms but no hydraulic presses etc I will add photos but they didn't say anything else needed replacing except the " gators "

 

[Mottie]

Then he should have failed it on this:

He's an idiot.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Perhaps the OP should get underneath and actually check they're actually knackered ....

 

[dptt]

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

Then he should have failed it on this:

View attachment 364275

He's an idiot.

Completely agree. I just jacked it up and can confirm the outer cv boot both sides is cracked and black grease leaking as people mentioned .
Thanks for all the assistance , as you say - not sure why they didn't just use the correct wording .
Much appreciated all the advice I will look into getting this sorted at a much lower cost than 400 ...hopefully !

 

[robinbanks]

there are various kits available to repair; some have a split boot that you glue together with superglue type adhesive, some come with a cone that allows you to carefully stretch the narrow end of the boot (a snug fit on the slender part of the shaft) over the considerably more bulky joint itself, and other kits may need you to remove (if possible, or downsize by disassembly) the joint from the shaft because they won't stretch enough

Personally, I've used the stretch ones after finding the split boot kits a bit lacklustre in terms of longevity; always been amazed that one can get a 5 inch diameter joint through a 1 inch diameter hole in the end of a boot

 

[Mottie]

Completely agree. I just jacked it up and can confirm the outer cv boot both sides is cracked and black grease leaking as people mentioned .
Thanks for all the assistance , as you say - not sure why they didn't just use the correct wording .
Much appreciated all the advice I will look into getting this sorted at a much lower cost than 400 ...hopefully !

A decent quality cv boot kit will only set you back £20-£25 per side so there's a good saving on £400 if you do it yourself. Plenty of 'how to's' on YouTube for you to follow. £200 per side to fit a CV boot is an absolute pìss take!

 

[dptt]

A decent quality cv boot kit will only set you back £20-£25 per side so there's a good saving on £400 if you do it yourself. Plenty of 'how to's' on YouTube for you to follow. £200 per side to fit a CV boot is an absolute pìss take!

Thanks yes been looking at some very good videos - and I would be able to do it ( albeit will take me longer than a lot of people admittedly). I can't see how they justify that amount ...I am finding a lot of garages massively overcharging at least where I am . Not to say all mechanics are on the take but it does disturb me the amount they charge, now I have a much better understanding of what things entail ...it simply doesn't seem fair pricing .
Thanks to yourself and others on this thread it's been massively helpful - I will see if I can have a go myself. On a side note this skoda fabia has been one of the best cars I've owned ( admittedly not very exciting as cars go ! However having numerous children my money has to go mainly on food and mortgage ! ). Thanks again to all have a nice evening

 

[dptt]

there are various kits available to repair; some have a split boot that you glue together with superglue type adhesive, some come with a cone that allows you to carefully stretch the narrow end of the boot (a snug fit on the slender part of the shaft) over the considerably more bulky joint itself, and other kits may need you to remove (if possible, or downsize by disassembly) the joint from the shaft because they won't stretch enough

Personally, I've used the stretch ones after finding the split boot kits a bit lacklustre in terms of longevity; always been amazed that one can get a 5 inch diameter joint through a 1 inch diameter hole in the end of a boot

Thank you I am perusing these options very helpful .

 

[carmanmemoranda]

Dont even try and use (or waste your money) on the split type boots. Horrendous to use, needs to be spotlessly clean, and the slightest hole in the joint will be an automatic mot fail. Possibly ok as a get out of jail emergency for an experienced person, but not at all if you havge no experience of cv boots.

Stretchy ones with a cone are awkward at 1st, but practical.

A tailored boot, will take ( a little) longer but be generally easier, and give probably better life.

 

[thomp1983]

Seems to be a common thing garages massively overcharging at the minute.

Recent mot failure on a 2005 Audi A3 saw me quoted £183 to change front brake pads and £257 quid to change a front wishbone, I did the work myself with the parts coming to £130, there's no way it's £310 worth of labour and they'd of probably got the parts cheaper than me aswell.

 

[carmanmemoranda]

Seems to be a common thing garages massively overcharging at the minute.

Recent mot failure on a 2005 Audi A3 saw me quoted £183 to change front brake pads and £257 quid to change a front wishbone, I did the work myself with the parts coming to £130, there's no way it's £310 worth of labour and they'd of probably got the parts cheaper than me aswell.

Was that quote from an Audi dealer or specialist, or independant type garage ?