CV shaft failure

[Cliff8928]

Those at the road course at bfest may remember the CV shaft episode with my car, Here's the aftermath of that incident.





I'm probably just going to go and put in a long CV shaft (from a 2.0 Turbo) and get rid of the intermediate for the time being.  I shouldn't have to worry about any torque steer with the Torsen.  I don't forsee being able to find that intermediate housing very easily.

[Money pit Beretta]

Dang, my stupid computer won't let me look at the pics. Turned off the firewall and still can't get them.

[Cliff8928]

nah, that's not you, I just got owned by capital letters in my filenames.  Oops.

Oh, and notice how like 2/3 of that inner joint isn't even there!

[Mr. Beefy]

Oh snap!!  

[heavywoody]

That's what his axle said...

If you want, I'll see about finding an intermediate shaft at the yards when I got, if you want to keep that same setup.

[1988GTU]

Now that just flat out sucks.  Do you think the 2.0 shaft will be able to handle the V6 torque?

[Cliff8928]

I just need to get it around temporarily on the 2.0 Turbo shaft.  I'll probably order some from the driveshaft shop or some other place and they get rid of the intermediate shaft anyways with their HD axles.

[berettajunkie1991]

god that brings back memories of me snapping my halfshaft nice pulley by the way

[Money pit Beretta]

Thanks Cliff, I thought it was just this old computer. Man, how much power are you putting down?

[heavywoody]

He's got a stock 3400... very free flowing exhaust, and I think a cone filter.

The real reason this part failed was because the "launch point" on the road course was a raised portion of asphalt. When the car came off the hill, it got a bit of air, and the front tires lost traction, and when they came back down, they were spinning like crazy, then OOPS! Traction!

At least that's my theory. Stupid exit road for the course!

[Cliff8928]

Actually, I think the shaft was too short to begin with.  Maybe it was reman'd wrong?  Unlike some cars (mainly chryslers), there is NO adjustment in the drivetrain side-to-side.  The mount right above the CV shaft is the only one that hasn't been upgraded yet either (just replaced with a new stock part).

My theory is that the CV shaft was slightly too short and it came slightly out of the housing, and then didn't go back in, so when things tried to compress it all went awry.

I ordered two CV shafts at work and checked their lengths (fully compressed, one new, one reman) and they were about 1/2" difference in length.  They were the same application too!

The engine is dang near stock as Geoff said.  I have never taken it apart at all (it still has the '99 intake gasket!).  Only upgrades are the FFP pulley, Fidanza flywheel and the exhaust.

[Money pit Beretta]

Ok, just checking on the power. The air off the hill and the short shaft did it?  I had a reman on the 90GT and it had metal flakes in the lock ring. I couldn't get it in without taking them all out. The point is, I'm not to big on reman stuff, good to hear that you got a new one.

[heavywoody]

Cliff, out of all the remans I've gone through, I'm going to say that I think the reman places don't give a damn about length tolerances.

[Cliff8928]

Yeah, If the new ones only weren't so dang expensive.

[heavywoody]

I hear you on that... if my axles didn't have a lifetime warranty, I'd be screwed.