Author Topic: half shaft debacle....... (Read 914 times)

vg30e_x2_200sx · « **on:** 01:25:21 PM / 16-Jun-04 »

Well this is a nightmare.

I guess my first question is are they left and right side spacific?

I took mine in for a rebuild and this has gone soooo south.

I went to install them and the one was fione, but the other had about a 1/4\" gap between the shaft and the diff housing.

The shop first told me they were the same, but now he tells me they are side spacific.

Waht a pita........MAJOR.

Alex Frost · « **Reply #1 on:** 01:42:28 PM / 16-Jun-04 »

As long as they are the same length, I don\'t believe they would be side specific, if anyone has a FSM they will be able to help more. Actually you can ask Nissan. See if they are the same part numbers. If they are, then they are not side specific, and also at the same time you can ask if they are side specific, they may just have different part number for the sake of being that way. Nissan I would say though is your best bet for the truth.

vg30e_x2_200sx · « **Reply #2 on:** 03:48:23 PM / 16-Jun-04 »

I have a FSM and it doesn\'t say anything either way.

Johnnyfive · « **Reply #3 on:** 04:03:26 PM / 16-Jun-04 »

the part numbers for the axles are different from left to right

JasterM5 · « **Reply #4 on:** 05:35:30 PM / 16-Jun-04 »

they are side specific. When I took mine out to put in my VLSD i noticed one of them was a tiny bit longer thatn the other, so u may have the short one on the side where the long one should be. This would cause the other one to stick out a bit further. Try swapping the sides.

vg30e_x2_200sx · « **Reply #5 on:** 01:20:40 PM / 22-Jun-04 »

Well I FINALLY got the axles back in the car yesterday. What a mess that was.

When I picked yp the axles I spacifically asked the guy if there was a left and right. He told me no. So when I went to install my axles and the left one didn\'t go in as far as it should I thougt that fotgot something.

I brought it abck to him (oh by the way the shop was 17 miles from my house and about 40-45 from where my car was) and we tried to figure out what the problem was. at firsrt he put some stupic collar on and I knew that was wrong and told him to take it off.

Manwhile another week goes by because of my time constraints and work schedule.

So he calls one of his suppliers to check on an axle end because he thinks I have 4 cyl axles when I shouldn\'t.

That\'s when he discovers that there is a difference between the left and right axles.(now you\'d think he would of had that info when he was rebuilding them wouldn\'t ya)

So he calles me and twlls me there is a difference and so I pull the axle back out that I have allready installed to measure the length of the splined part of the shaft. Turns out it was the exact length he said it should be.

So at this point I called him back and told him I would be back on Saturday to pick the other axle up because he told me he had reused my ends.

The shop is suppoised to be open untill noon on Saturday.

So now I make my 5th trip back to the shop to pick up my axle on Saturday. I don\'t get home from work till about 2:30 am Friday night so I tend to get up lat Saturday morning. I woke up at a little after 11 so I got dressed and headed out to pick it up. I get there at 11:50 and what did I find but one nicly locked up tight shop and nobody to be found.

At this point I was so pissed that I called him adn left a \"nice\" message on the cell phone.

I went back again yesterday (fist day off since) and picked up the axle and left without saying a word.

Turnd out that the splined part of the axles are of different lengths and that is the difference between them.

There is a small ring or clip inside the diff that was hanging down ever so slightly and that was what was stopping the axle from going in.

Had I known about the difference in the axle shafts in the frist place none of this would have taken place and I would have looked in there 2 weeks ago.

So everone take note........THE SPLINED PART IS THE HALFSHAFTS ARE DIFFERENT ON THE R200 DIFF. THE LEFT IS SHORTER THAN THE RIGHT.

There. Now at least we all know this is the case and not to make the mistakes I did.

At least now I have to rebuilt axles in the car. Damn.

It\'s not all that hard to do this, but I found that having a friend there to help was a very good thing. I ended up taking out the rear springs so make gett the hub in the correct possission without lifting the car off the jackstands.

I also replaced my diff cover gasket and lube at this time. Now I have a nice clean cover that will never be seen...lol.

oh well......sorry for the long post, but I felt the need.

Later all.

Alex Frost · « **Reply #6 on:** 01:41:56 PM / 22-Jun-04 »

Well at least you have your car back together now. And thanks for telling everybody about the difference, I would have run into the eact same problem as what you did.

So if you took out the springs to give more room, did you replace them with aftermarket units, or did you just put the stockers back in??

vg30e_x2_200sx · « **Reply #7 on:** 03:29:20 PM / 22-Jun-04 »

Nah...I just kept the stock ones.....at least for now. I am kinda on a budget right now because I am getting the car ready for a trip to California in a little over a month and it is looking like I may need some trans work before all is said and done.

the whole reason I took the shafts out in the first place was I am trying to track down a vibration and all is now pointint towards the trans.

It only happens upon acceleration and I have a auto. I have a bad feeling that this is the only answer I have left and it may be over $1000 to fix. But it will be worth it in the end so I don\'t mind.

Nebuchernezzer · « **Reply #8 on:** 06:06:58 PM / 22-Jun-04 »

I had the same problem with my car when i put the LSD in, got some new shafts and accidently put them in the wrong side..hmm then had to take em out and put em in the right sides hehe, they still don\'t look like they sit quite right but i don\'t really care cos it doesn\'t leak and it goes round and round so it\'s ok