Axles/Driveshafts - advice please

[Button]

Hi, I'm looking for some help please.

I'm based in the UK and my independent NSX workshop has advised that I have excessive play in my Driveshafts. They've suggested that I could look to source aftermarket replacements from RockAuto in the US.


A Honda dealership replaced both outside driveshaft boots for me back in 2012 as they were leaking grease and I've only done 5000 miles since then. Unfortunately at that time they did not suggest doing the inbound boots.

Having now spent many hours looking at posts on here and NSXCB, Larry and Kaz's being particularly helpful, it would have clearly been a good thing if they'd done all the joints whilst the driveshafts were removed. That said I don't think they would have taken apart the pin bearings to get new grease into those important areas as detailed by Kaz. The inbound driveshaft boots are not showing signs of grease leakage but they still have the old type boot clips so don't think they have been replaced.



It now looks that RockAuto can supply both left and right side driveshafts.
Surtrack / trakmotive HO-8166 (rear left) £46, and HO-8362 (rear right -manual) £73 - with shipping and vat they are quoting a total of £215.


I am however a little wary of aftermarket options and have also read some unfavourable reports on here. From Kaz's posts he's fitted a few of these Surtrack shafts in the Uk, but does anyone have good or bad feedback having have had them installed for a few years now? I've been warned off Insane shafts by a UK parts importer.



My other option is to do the full refurb on the existing shafts - I expect there will be some wear to the joint, spiders and rollers (I've been looking at the many examples on the posts) but I'm hopeful that there will be no cracks and it seems that in most cases the full refurb option works.


I think I'm leaning towards refurbing, but I would really welcome any suggestions.



Many thanks,

 

[drew]

I believe the inner CVs and cups are the same as a KA Legend. Axles for those cars are dirt cheap.

EDIT: is there play or noise in the existing axles? I put a lot of moderate miles on my axles and when I "rebuilt" then (new boots + grease) there was no discernable play or noise. Good for another 300,000km.

 

[goldNSX]

Sounds a little bit peculiar to me as well. Why should they be bad 5k miles later as they have been worked on 7 years ago.

Symptoms?

 

[asylum]

Do they make noise ? If no, just regrease, reboot, an reenjoy.

 

[JLCoolman]

What is your shop considering as "excessive play"?

I agree with @goldNSX that this situations sounds a little weird that they were fine in 2012 after the outboard boot replacement, but are now not good after just 5,000 miles.

I would imagine rebuilding your OEM driveshafts is your best bet, unless there is something wrong with some of the components.


Alternatively, I have a set of rebuilt OEM driveshafts sitting around that I purchased from a fellow Prime member a few years ago, that I plan on eventually selling.
http://www.nsxprime.com/forum/showt...complete-OEM-axle-set-with-intermediate-shaft
Long story short, my original driveshafts need new outboard joints before I can rebuild them, I bought the rebuilt driveshafts with the intention of using them for the interim, I then decided to go all new and bought a brand new set of OEM driveshafts (also, still unused, lol).
Jimmy, the seller, said that the axles were overhauled about two years prior to me buying them, and were never used since.
And I have just had them boxed up in the garage, so the rebuilt driveshafts have never been used since being rebuilt.

edit: I forgot to mention that I really only need new outboard joint housings, so if something is truly wrong with the internals of your driveshafts, maybe we could work out a trade+cash for your outboard joints and the set of rebuilt driveshafts I have.

 

[Honcho]

Hi, I'm looking for some help please.

I'm based in the UK and my independent NSX workshop has advised that I have excessive play in my Driveshafts. They've suggested that I could look to source aftermarket replacements from RockAuto in the US.


A Honda dealership replaced both outside driveshaft boots for me back in 2012 as they were leaking grease and I've only done 5000 miles since then. Unfortunately at that time they did not suggest doing the inbound boots.

Having now spent many hours looking at posts on here and NSXCB, Larry and Kaz's being particularly helpful, it would have clearly been a good thing if they'd done all the joints whilst the driveshafts were removed. That said I don't think they would have taken apart the pin bearings to get new grease into those important areas as detailed by Kaz. The inbound driveshaft boots are not showing signs of grease leakage but they still have the old type boot clips so don't think they have been replaced.



It now looks that RockAuto can supply both left and right side driveshafts.
Surtrack / trakmotive HO-8166 (rear left) £46, and HO-8362 (rear right -manual) £73 - with shipping and vat they are quoting a total of £215.


I am however a little wary of aftermarket options and have also read some unfavourable reports on here. From Kaz's posts he's fitted a few of these Surtrack shafts in the Uk, but does anyone have good or bad feedback having have had them installed for a few years now? I've been warned off Insane shafts by a UK parts importer.



My other option is to do the full refurb on the existing shafts - I expect there will be some wear to the joint, spiders and rollers (I've been looking at the many examples on the posts) but I'm hopeful that there will be no cracks and it seems that in most cases the full refurb option works.


I think I'm leaning towards refurbing, but I would really welcome any suggestions.



Many thanks,

Not sure what "excessive play" means here. Are the joints making noise or is there actual mechanical play in the joint? A noisy/clicking CV joint is almost always an indicator of a lack of lubrication, so the Kaz/LarryB service of cleaning and re-greasing the joints is usually enough to fix it. There are two mechanical "fits" that could result in slop if the joint was run without lubrication for too long: the fit of the roller bearings into the slots of the outer cups and the fit of the "spider" arms into the pin bearings. In either case, if enough metal has worn away, your CV joint is basically ruined. But, I'm not sure that is the case. Kaz is very specific that each roller bearing must be placed back into the exact slot in the exact same orientation as it came out. Maybe the Honda shop was moving too hastily and re-assembled with the bearings in the wrong spots? That would cause noise and slop...

 

[goldNSX]

Some kind of warning: once, a shop - not familiar with the NSX - replaced an axle due to the pretty normal clunking noise the gearbox/differential can make with the result of having replaced a good axle for a new one.

 

[Button]

Thanks for all the replies. I've just been into the garage to look at the car again. As GoldNSX says I do have a clunking noise but in my opinion this is coming from the gearbox/ diff. With the car raised upon stands and in gear on the left hand driveshaft I can rotate the brake rotor in circumference terms by about 8mm back and forth and this causes the clunking noise. The movement passes all the way through the driveshaft without any noticeable movement in the driveshaft joints themselves. On the right driveshaft I can only get about 4mm movement in circumference and this movement flows through to the intermediate shaft - no clunking.
I'm trying to remember back in 2012 after the driveshaft boots were replaced and I think I had this clunking still back then. The Honda garage only replaced one boot on each side - where grease was weeping, so at best only half a full job.

My NSX 'specialist' does seem to have good knowledge of the NSX and also prepares race honda Vtec's. He probably sees more NSX's than my local honda Dealerships.

I hope this provides a bit more clarity of my symptoms

thanks

 

[Button]

More info on symptoms

Thanks for all the replies. I've just been into the garage to look at the car again. As GoldNSX says I do have a clunking noise but in my opinion this is coming from the gearbox/ diff. With the car raised upon stands and in gear on the left hand driveshaft I can rotate the brake rotor in circumference terms by about 8mm back and forth and this causes the clunking noise. The movement passes all the way through the driveshaft without any noticeable movement in the driveshaft joints themselves. On the right driveshaft I can only get about 4mm movement in circumference and this movement flows through to the intermediate shaft - no clunking.
I'm trying to remember back in 2012 after the driveshaft boots were replaced and I think I had this clunking still back then. The Honda garage only replaced one boot on each side - where grease was weeping, so at best only half a full job.

My NSX 'specialist' does seem to have good knowledge of the NSX and also prepares race honda Vtec's. He probably sees more NSX's than my local honda Dealerships.

I hope this provides a bit more clarity of my symptoms

thanks

 

[Button]

Axles/Driveshafts advice please (continued!)

Apologies but I'm having to post this as a new thread as I can't post on the previous thread I started yesterday? And for some reason I can't message an administrator for help either, it says I don't have permission.

Thanks for all the replies to my post yesterday. I've just been into the garage to look at the car again. As GoldNSX says I do have a clunking noise but in my opinion this is coming from the gearbox/ diff. With the car raised upon stands and in gear on the left hand driveshaft I can rotate the brake rotor in circumference terms by about 8mm back and forth and this causes the clunking noise. The movement passes all the way through the driveshaft without any noticeable movement in the driveshaft joints themselves. On the right driveshaft I can only get about 4mm movement in circumference and this movement flows through to the intermediate shaft - no clunking.

I'm trying to remember back in 2012 after the driveshaft boots were replaced and I think I had this clunking still back then. The Honda garage only replaced one boot on each side - where grease was weeping, so at best only half a full job.

My NSX 'specialist' does seem to have good knowledge of the NSX and also prepares race honda Vtec's. He probably sees more NSX's than my local honda Dealerships.

I hope this provides a bit more clarity of my symptoms.

thanks

 

[docjohn]

If your first name is Jenson please post more.....:biggrin:

 

[Button]

If your first name is Jenson please post more.....:biggrin:

:highly_amused: ...afraid not!

 

[JLCoolman]

Thanks for all the replies. I've just been into the garage to look at the car again. As GoldNSX says I do have a clunking noise but in my opinion this is coming from the gearbox/ diff. With the car raised upon stands and in gear on the left hand driveshaft I can rotate the brake rotor in circumference terms by about 8mm back and forth and this causes the clunking noise. The movement passes all the way through the driveshaft without any noticeable movement in the driveshaft joints themselves. On the right driveshaft I can only get about 4mm movement in circumference and this movement flows through to the intermediate shaft - no clunking.
I'm trying to remember back in 2012 after the driveshaft boots were replaced and I think I had this clunking still back then. The Honda garage only replaced one boot on each side - where grease was weeping, so at best only half a full job.

My NSX 'specialist' does seem to have good knowledge of the NSX and also prepares race honda Vtec's. He probably sees more NSX's than my local honda Dealerships.

I hope this provides a bit more clarity of my symptoms

thanks

Sounds like things are okay based on your investigation, so now it boils down to what is your NSX "specialist" considering as excessive play.

Also, I'm a little suprised that only your outboard joint boots were leaking, as the inboard joint boots (especially the right/passenger side) are more likely to leak or at least start leaking first, due to the heat by proximity to the motor/transmission/oil cooler area. But that could be due to operating conditions, I guess.

If your first name is Jenson please post more.....:biggrin:

LOL, that thought did pass through my head, too.

:highly_amused: ...afraid not!

But please do post more, regardless.

 

[Button]

Sounds like things are okay based on your investigation, so now it boils down to what is your NSX "specialist" considering as excessive play.

Also, I'm a little suprised that only your outboard joint boots were leaking, as the inboard joint boots (especially the right/passenger side) are more likely to leak or at least start leaking first, due to the heat by proximity to the motor/transmission/oil cooler area. But that could be due to operating conditions, I guess.



LOL, that thought did pass through my head, too.


But please do post more, regardless.

Thanks for your comments, I'm now of the opinion that the play my garage has referred to is infact the 'normal' NSX gear clunk. The garage is not that local so I can't just nip round with the car at the moment to question the play with him.

Regarding my earlier boot leaks, I've looked again under the car and you are right whilst the Honda dealership invoice quoted replacing the outer boots on both sides, they have infact replaced the inner boot on the right and the outer boot on the left!!

I'm not feeling quite as worried about the excessive play now, but think a full overhaul as per Kaz's blogs would still be a good idea in the near future.

 

[Button]

Sounds like things are okay based on your investigation, so now it boils down to what is your NSX "specialist" considering as excessive play.

Also, I'm a little suprised that only your outboard joint boots were leaking, as the inboard joint boots (especially the right/passenger side) are more likely to leak or at least start leaking first, due to the heat by proximity to the motor/transmission/oil cooler area. But that could be due to operating conditions, I guess.



LOL, that thought did pass through my head, too.


But please do post more, regardless.

Second time trying to post this reply! My posts keep going to a moderator for approval and I don't have 'permission' to private message so can't ask an administrator for help!! Hope this reply gets posted, as it's getting very frustrating!...


[FONT=.SF UI Text][FONT=.SFUIText]Thanks for your comments, I'm now of the opinion that the play my garage has referred to is infact the 'normal' NSX gear clunk. The garage is not that local so I can't just nip round with the car at the moment to question the play with him. [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=.SF UI Text][FONT=.SFUIText][/FONT]
[/FONT]
[FONT=.SF UI Text][FONT=.SFUIText]Regarding my earlier boot leaks, I've looked again under the car and you are right whilst the Honda dealership invoice quoted replacing the outer boots on both sides, they have infact replaced the inner boot on the right and the outer boot on the left!![/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=.SF UI Text][FONT=.SFUIText][/FONT]
[/FONT]
[FONT=.SF UI Text][FONT=.SFUIText]I'm not feeling quite as worried about the excessive play now, but think a full overhaul as per Kaz's blogs would still be a good idea in the near future.[/FONT][/FONT]