Driveshaft not clicking into gearbox?

[Valandil]

Hi guys,

I'm changing my passengers side driveshaft as I've got an evil vibration and a clunking when changing gears and accelerating/decelerating, and I changed the other driveshaft a few weeks ago. Seems to be a fair amount of lateral play in the outer joint of the old shaft, but the inner shaft end wasn't "clicked" into the box when I took it out, it just moves freely in and out. I remember now that it did this when I did the clutch last year, but I didn't think anything of it.

Is this normal? Or an issue? It has been clunking since I did the clutch, though it's got worse recently. The end of the old shaft looks the same as the new one. I'm wondering whether the lateral movement is my clunking noise as it hits the box?

[jasper5]

Hi guys,

I'm changing my passengers side driveshaft as I've got an evil vibration and a clunking when changing gears and accelerating/decelerating, and I changed the other driveshaft a few weeks ago. Seems to be a fair amount of lateral play in the outer joint of the old shaft, but the inner shaft end wasn't "clicked" into the box when I took it out, it just moves freely in and out. I remember now that it did this when I did the clutch last year, but I didn't think anything of it.

Is this normal? Or an issue? It has been clunking since I did the clutch, though it's got worse recently. The end of the old shaft looks the same as the new one. I'm wondering whether the lateral movement is my clunking noise as it hits the box?

Perfectly normal for the shaft to move freely in and out

You always have to be careful with the left driveshaft that it doesn't move out when working on ball joints and such on Peugeot and Citroen vehicles.

The clunking sounds like a worn driveshaft, especially if you have a bad vibration, otherwise the lower engine mount could be an issue.

[Valandil]

Thanks for that, gives me some peace of mind! Unfortunately it doesn't seem to have made any difference, but I've noticed one of the wishbone rubbers is really knackered so hopefully that'll fix it!

[Uberderv]

Could it be linked to when you changed the clutch? Or maybe an engine mount?

[Valandil]

Could it be linked to when you changed the clutch? Or maybe an engine mount?

Well I have wondered that, but I can't think of anything that would have caused it. The bottom mount looks fine and I did the top torsional mount recently in pursuit of this same issue. The clunking sounds to me to be from the drivers side, hence I did the driveshaft that side first, I then just did the passengers side for lack of any better ideas! The vibration is speed related, not revs related so I don't think it can be the the engine/clutch side of things.

The vibration has only started recently, but the cluncking has also got worse recently, both about the time I changed the driveshaft that side. The best I can think of at the moment is that the wishbone rubber got damaged when I levered the wishbone down to get the balljoint out when I did the clutch, and then it got worse when I did the same to change the driveshaft that side. That may be clutching at straws I know, but that's all I've got at the moment! I can't feel any play in anything else.

[Uberderv]

Did you tighten the hub nut up to the correct torque? The possible dodgy bush could explain the clunking but the speed related vibration in my mind has to be something rotating.

[Valandil]

Well it's torque setting is so tight I have no way of measuring it, but I've done it plenty of times in the past and haven't had a problem.

I forgot to mention that I did the wheel bearing that side as well, so the vibration could well be that. I think I did overtighten the hub nut that time, but I have since loosened it off. Whether that's done something to the bearing though I'm not sure.

Yes I agree the vibration probably is something rotating, and I bet it's the bearing, but my plan was to fix the knocking first just in case they are related. I don't want to have to do the bearing again if I don't need to!

[jasper5]

If you had a wheel bearing fault and a bad vibration you would almost certainly have a loud noise coming from the wheel bearing plus movement in the wheel....you would feel the bearing problem as you spin the wheel.
The driveshaft being faulty (inner joint) would give you a large amount of movement back and forth with the car in gear and engine off.

To check for the vibration...
Jack up the car and make sure it is very secure on axle stands.
Check the wheels, tyres and how the wheel feels when you turn it, plus how the driveshaft looks as you spin it (does it look round or not.
Personally I would be running the car in second gear with the car up on axle stands and carefully look at the shafts/wheels as they turn.
You must be very careful not to be close enough to do yourself any harm, plus the car must be very secure on the axle stands.
I'm a professional mechanic and know what I'm doing...do this at your own risk!

[Valandil]

Yes I have spun the wheels to check the bearings and they feel fine. I ran out of time this weekend but might be worth checking the driveshaft spinning like you said next weekend. Thanks for your suggestions!