N3 TUT

tut · Post by **tut** » Wed May 30, 2007 1:50 pm

John Duthie just stripped down the drive shaft this morning, and as suspected it is the offside tripod CV joint, next to the intermediate hanger bearing, that has gone.

Not completely which is why I still had drive, but one of the three bearings had collapsed. Not too good after one year, especially the easy life that it had lead before I bought it. Even since I have not finished one of the four trackdays, so again it has not been overworked.

Fortunately I have a spare matching CV joint, left over from when a drive shaft snapped on N1, and Rich replaced the whole assembly. Should be ready this afternoon, so I will not miss my own tut towers.

John has decided he would like to get hold of a cheap Elise, and probably change the engine, so I am trying to get him this one. However there is one potential buyer trying to put the money together, so we may miss out.

It is a CAT D, but only had front clamshell damage.

tut

"Racing green metallic 11 months mot CAT D. (1997) 23,000 miles, listed cat d 2yrs ago, been road going last 12 months, runs like a dream, tidy bodywork, interior, sigma cat1 alarm what more do u want? cheap car for summer, bargain £5500 no offers."

Sanjøy · Post by **Sanjøy** » Wed May 30, 2007 1:54 pm

That a French plate on it ?

jamie · Post by **jamie** » Wed May 30, 2007 2:03 pm

Sorry Tut trying to swot up on the mechanical side of things - bound to have stuff braking sooner of later! Can you explain what the CV joint does? Guessing its somewhere between the drive shaft and gearbox.
Cheers Jamie

Post by ed » Wed May 30, 2007 2:04 pm

Glad you've got it sorted tut!

tut · Post by **tut** » Wed May 30, 2007 2:21 pm

Exactly that Jamie.

On the nearside you have a driveshaft, which is a rod with splines at each end. One end fits into the outer CV joint which is a standard Lotus part. The other end goes into a larger tripod CV joint, which inserts into the gearbox.

On the offside of the car, unlike the K series which uses one long driveshaft, there is an intermediate drive shaft coming out of the gearbox which goes into a similar tripod CV joint, which then inserts into a hanger bearing. This is to cut out just one long driveshaft. The outer driveshaft goes from the other side of this into the outer CV joint, again a Lotus part.

However the tripod CV joints are Honda Civic Type-R items.

Robin could probably finish it off with a picture.

tut

Post by **simon** » Wed May 30, 2007 2:30 pm

tut wrote:Robin could probably finish it off with a picture.

Dominic · Post by **Dominic** » Wed May 30, 2007 2:32 pm

Off subject, Tut, have you seen DDtB's new avatar... with added viagra?

Post by ed » Wed May 30, 2007 2:36 pm

Even better some photos!

The attached pics show the drive shaft splined ends, CV joint and honda tripoid joint which are fitted to my car.
The one with the small shallow groove is to take the Honda tripoid joint, the one with the deeper groove takes the CV.

HTH cheers Ed

mckeann · Post by **mckeann** » Wed May 30, 2007 2:49 pm

tut wrote:Exactly that Jamie.

One end fits into the outer CV joint which is a standard Lotus part. The other end goes into a larger tripod CV joint, which inserts into the gearbox.
The outer driveshaft goes from the other side of this into the outer CV joint, again a Lotus part.

However the tripod CV joints are Honda Civic Type-R items.

tut

thats whats on both of your cars Tut, but not all honda's are the same.

Sinclaires and the link up kits use GKN driveshafts with uprated joints and shafts. My car originally came with what was on Ed's car, and i lunched them quite soon after. My car has the new GKN shafts and they have been fine for the past year.

Is it not an option for you and Ed to fit the new and improved ones??

Post by ed » Wed May 30, 2007 3:06 pm

I (should read RObin

) am still trying to work out whats up with my shafts. For some reason there appears to be a large amount of lateral movement.

So will look at options once we have established whats up with them.

tut · Post by **tut** » Wed May 30, 2007 3:09 pm

Thanks Si and ed for the pics.

Neil

As both my cars have the BLiNK conversion, then I have the earlier version of both drive shafts and CV joints.

I believe that the present Link-Up kit has larger diameter drive shafts, and upgraded inner CV tripod joints along with upgraded outer CV joints.

The splines into the gearbox still have to be the same size, as do those into the rear wheel hubs, so there is no reason that I could not order complete assemblies through Rich from Geary. Apart of course from price, which is probably around £800.

Again time would come into it, and no f***ing way that I am going to miss my own event, plus I have to check you out on the road again to see if you come upto spec, and of course, spank your ass on the track.

<BG>

tut

mckeann · Post by **mckeann** » Wed May 30, 2007 3:13 pm

I'll give you a good fight on the track tut, but will sit at my usual pace on the road run. We dont want TT turning into the gumball 3000

Did i mention i cant wait

jamie · Post by **jamie** » Wed May 30, 2007 3:15 pm

Learn something every day

mckeann wrote: My car originally came with what was on Ed's car, and i lunched them quite soon after. My car has the new GKN shafts and they have been fine for the past year.

If Mckeann cant break'em .......

Post by ed » Wed May 30, 2007 3:20 pm

mckeann wrote: Did i mention i cant wait

tut · Post by **tut** » Wed May 30, 2007 3:21 pm

ed

You need to do what John has done this morning. Firstly try to establish if it is nearside of the gearbox or offside.

I think that Robin has established offside, so then take off the complete driveshaft assembly from the gearbox to the outer CV joint, unbolting the hanger bearing mounting in between.

Put it onto the work bench and establish where the problem lies. There will be a little bit of play in the hanger bearing bush, it is quite large, but not too much, so check that first. Then separate the large inner tripod CV joint, as that is the likely suspect. Check the three large bearings, and also the grooves that they run in in the housing. If they appear undamaged, then separate the outer CV joint and check that.

Hopefully one of them will be the villain.

tut