Drive shaft - what's happened here?

BX Tech talk
Post Reply
Phil Peters
Confirmed BX'er
Posts: 46
Joined: Sun Feb 03, 2013 7:15 pm
Location: Warwickshire, UK

Drive shaft - what's happened here?

Post by Phil Peters »

Hi all,

I was under my car recently changing the gearbox oil when I noticed this piece of rubber roaming freely along the drive shaft:

Image

I couldn't see any mention of this item in the Haynes manual but I think I've tracked it down on another diagram:

Image

I assume its intended purpose is to protect the oil seal but how is this piece supposed to be held in place?

I have noticed a bit of a low pitched rumble / roar at higher speeds (65+ MPH) recently but I can't tell if it's because the gearbox oil has been changed or because something has deteriorated due to water ingress etc. All other rubber boots seem to be in good shape.

Cheers,

Phil

1992 BX19 TGD (aka Maurice), N/A diesel, silver with Zenith trim.
citronut
Over 2k
Posts: 2781
Joined: Wed Oct 31, 2007 7:55 am
Location: EAST SUSSEX UK
x 1

Re: Drive shaft - what's happened here?

Post by citronut »

it is supposed to just be slid up against the diff outlet,

it should be just tight enough to stay there, if you look at the shaft right next to the diff it is very slightly thicker,

it is just to deflect dirt away from the seal

regards malcolm
curent ride
K reg BX 17TD TZD est
also own
K reg D special

no longer have
H reg CX saffari 2.5 TRI (now gone to Malaysia)
R reg xantia 1.9TD est (gone to meet its maker)
Brian
BXpert
Posts: 441
Joined: Sun Jan 08, 2006 5:53 pm
Location: Bedfordshire UK

Re: Drive shaft - what's happened here?

Post by Brian »

I have had this situation in the past.

Just slide the seal to the required location, then use a cable tie to keep it in place.
Visa 17D 1986 192K Sorn
BX 17RD 1986 220K Scrapped 2013 - Too much rust.
BX 17TZD 1992 192K
306 XRDT 1996 175K
Phil Peters
Confirmed BX'er
Posts: 46
Joined: Sun Feb 03, 2013 7:15 pm
Location: Warwickshire, UK

Re: Drive shaft - what's happened here?

Post by Phil Peters »

Thanks for the advice chaps, much appreciated.

Cheers,

Phil

1992 BX19 TGD (aka Maurice), N/A diesel, silver with Zenith trim.
adamskibx
BXpert
Posts: 950
Joined: Fri Jul 22, 2005 9:26 pm

Re: Drive shaft - what's happened here?

Post by adamskibx »

I have had the rubble noise on two BX's including a very minor rumble on my current one, and I suspect but am happily corrected that it is the long o/s driveshaft intermediate bearing as these are not in the oil system so can run dry.
KevR
1K Away
Posts: 1767
Joined: Mon Apr 12, 2010 8:46 pm
Location: Normandy
My Cars: It's all in my signature
x 4

Re: Drive shaft - what's happened here?

Post by KevR »

Could be the intermediate bearing as suggested, or a wheel bearing on the way out, Could also be your fifth gear going walkies as mine did recently. Worth removing the gearbox end cap and checking that everything's nice and tight as it should be. I ignored mine and instead of just needing tightening up, it stripped the gearbox output shaft splines so I had to change the gearbox.....
1990 BX TZD Estate ('the grey one', 1991 BX TZD Estate ('the white one'), 1982 2CV6 Charleston (in bits), 1972 AZU Serie B (2CV van), 1974 HY72 Camper, 1990 Land Rover 110 diesel LWB, 1957 Mobylette AV76, 1992 Ducati 400SS, 1966 VW Beetle, 1990 Mazda MX-5, 1996 Peugeot 106D, 1974 JCB 2D MkII, 1997 BMW R1100RS, 1987 Suzuki GSX-R1100, 1978 Honda CX500A, 1965 Motobecane Cady, 1988 Honda Bros/Africa Twin, 1963 Massey Ferguson 825, and a lot of bicycles!
Phil Peters
Confirmed BX'er
Posts: 46
Joined: Sun Feb 03, 2013 7:15 pm
Location: Warwickshire, UK

Re: Drive shaft - what's happened here?

Post by Phil Peters »

Hi all,

A belated reply as I've been keeping an ear on the rumble noise over the last few weeks.

Drive shaft seal now back in position and duly cable tied; thanks for the advice on that one.

I noticed my tyre pressures were down slightly but after rectifying that I'm still hearing the same rumble / whine noise as before. I don't notice it driving around town but at speeds of 60+ you can really hear it and you can also feel a bit of resonance in the footwell.

The car has a complete service history from new and having had a dig through the paperwork, the previous owner (ex Citroen mechanic) tightened up the nut on 5th gear back in 1998 at 95k miles. I'm now on 152k miles so perhaps this needs doing again. Is there a specific torque value for this?

I am also suspecting front wheel bearings could be the culprit as there's no record that they've ever been changed.

1992 BX19 TGD (aka Maurice), N/A diesel, silver with Zenith trim.
User avatar
Stinkwheel
1K Away
Posts: 1516
Joined: Wed Jan 04, 2006 9:38 pm
Location: In front of this flamin' PC

Re: Drive shaft - what's happened here?

Post by Stinkwheel »

Wheel bearings would be the first suspect in my book from what youve described above.
Doctor Of Gonzo Journalism!!!
93 BX TZD Estate
90 BX 14TE St Tropez
93 BX 19 TXD Estate
92 BX 16TXi
77 Ami 8 Break
79 Acadiane
81 Dyane6
84 2CV6
85 GSA saloon rally car
To slightly mis-quote Kitch ... "BX 14. They're just brilliant!"
KevR
1K Away
Posts: 1767
Joined: Mon Apr 12, 2010 8:46 pm
Location: Normandy
My Cars: It's all in my signature
x 4

Re: Drive shaft - what's happened here?

Post by KevR »

Phil Peters wrote:the previous owner (ex Citroen mechanic) tightened up the nut on 5th gear back in 1998 at 95k miles. I'm now on 152k miles so perhaps this needs doing again. Is there a specific torque value for this?
Probably but I don't know it - just needs to be tight.... You need a specific 28mm (I think) 12-pointed socket as it's not a normal nut.

Does sound more like wheel bearings though. They're always a bit tough to diagnose on drivewheels as it's harder to isolate the feel/sound of the bearing from the drag in the transmission.
1990 BX TZD Estate ('the grey one', 1991 BX TZD Estate ('the white one'), 1982 2CV6 Charleston (in bits), 1972 AZU Serie B (2CV van), 1974 HY72 Camper, 1990 Land Rover 110 diesel LWB, 1957 Mobylette AV76, 1992 Ducati 400SS, 1966 VW Beetle, 1990 Mazda MX-5, 1996 Peugeot 106D, 1974 JCB 2D MkII, 1997 BMW R1100RS, 1987 Suzuki GSX-R1100, 1978 Honda CX500A, 1965 Motobecane Cady, 1988 Honda Bros/Africa Twin, 1963 Massey Ferguson 825, and a lot of bicycles!
Post Reply