Driveshaft gators

[chris-law]

I have a ford focus st and the mot is due , these cars have a habit of splitting the driveshaft gators ( volvo t5 engine and running gear ) , i need to replace the gator , is there such a thing as a heavy duty universal one , the guy i bought it off replaced it not long before i got it and it lasted only a few mile , he then put a reconditioned driveshaft and it split not long after i got it .
Is there a cure for this sort of thing ?

Chris

 

[the snooper]

did he put the glue up type on ? if so they dont last long best to split the shaft

 

[chris-law]

did he put the glue up type on ? if so they dont last long best to split the shaft

He fitted the genuine ford ones , the one on the shaft now is a one piece rubber , i might just cheat and put a glue type one on for the mot , then deal with it after that .

 

[Marc.]

Those glue on ones are a pain in the rear to fit properly. Why are they splitting? Either try a decent quality aftermarket one or maybe if that fails, i really hate to say this but what about those cheapo naff ones that are wafer thin that come with the cone to fit over the joint without actually removing the joint itself?

 

[chris-law]

Those glue on ones are a pain in the rear to fit properly. Why are they splitting? Either try a decent quality aftermarket one or maybe if that fails, i really hate to say this but what about those cheapo naff ones that are wafer thin that come with the cone to fit over the joint without actually removing the joint itself?

Dont know mate , it seems like its a big problem on the focus forum with lots of guys reporting the same problem .

Chris

 

[Marc.]

Ohh, I see, seems strange how the design could lead to constant failure of the cv boots! How about these then? http://www.dreamscience-automotive....-upgrades/849-st225-motorsport-driveshaft.php Not much more than a CV boot itself! LOL

 

[chris-law]

Ohh, I see, seems strange how the design could lead to constant failure of the cv boots! How about these then? http://www.dreamscience-automotive....-upgrades/849-st225-motorsport-driveshaft.php Not much more than a CV boot itself! LOL

Cheap at half the price , yeah i allready know about them lol

 

[garethp]

Ohh, I see, seems strange how the design could lead to constant failure of the cv boots! L

Its a ford - my focus never ceases to amaze me with what can go wrong with it

 

[normspanners]

Hi are they splitting, or is the boot just coming off the large dia? because the plastic ones do struggle with the cold weather and full lock?

 

[chris-law]

Hi are they splitting, or is the boot just coming off the large dia? because the plastic ones do struggle with the cold weather and full lock?

They just split , seems to be loads with the same fault , os mainly

 

[Marc.]

Thats got to be a material fault, surely? Have you tried those super thin, naff, shove over the joint style boots yet to see if the flexibility of the material would help you in this matter?

 

[Justme]

The first split gaters were pants.

The more recent ones are fine. I have fitted one to each side of my current car & one side has done over 30k the other was only dont for the last MOT so is about 10-12k.

You just have to work clean & not get any grease on the gater before its glued & stuck.

 

[normspanners]

Speak with John at dave mac prop shafts, a top man he will advise you, they MAKE cv's etc and have years of experience on transmissions etc
tel 02476683239

 

[stuvy]

my sister had this on her tdci focus, does no one make an aftermarket one for the ST or even the volvo? Surely Pumabuild and the likes have something to suggest?

Iv only ever helped a mate replace a turbo on the ST and that was a right pig as its behind the engine and infront of the firewall not a fun saturday morning

 

[stuvy]

Does the gearbox grumble, clunk or have any play in it between first and reverse?

Jack it up and shake the rear of the box to see if theres any play, and im guessing you had loads of grease inside the boot which is now inside your wheel arch and front wheel?

 

[chris-law]

Does the gearbox grumble, clunk or have any play in it between first and reverse?

Jack it up and shake the rear of the box to see if theres any play, and im guessing you had loads of grease inside the boot which is now inside your wheel arch and front wheel?

You sir are correct , the wheel arch is full of grease
Didnt notice any noise though

 

[stuvy]

check the gearbox as if its loose the rear mount has gone causing the boot to tear from the extra stress, i just asked my mate that had an ST last year and chopped in in in november,

he had the boot go twice in 6months

 

[chris-law]

Ok cheers , will do when im home again , im sure i checked that though when i changed the downpipe

 

[normspanners]

check the gearbox as if its loose the rear mount has gone causing the boot to tear from the extra stress

I cant see the extra 'little' movement of a worn mount 1-2 degs max, can cause cv boots to split, because the angle they go to on full lock is huge compaired to that. A big problem with aftermarket or universal cv boots is insufficiant clearance when the wheel is on lock and the 'inners' of the boot fouling and getting rubbed with the cv inneards, Check also that the wheels have an equal amount of movement lock to lock as sometimes tracking can be done and the steering not 'equaled' causing 1 joint to over extend and damage the boot.

 

[polecat]

have you seen the trick with the cone on you tube it works brilliantly use the top off a small traffic cone turn the boot inside out push it over the cv joint and turn it right side out neat trick hope this helps
polecat