dropped it at my usual garage for MOT and Driveshaft snapped


Wilz

Wilz

Member
Joined
Dec 5, 2014
Messages
65
Hello all,

This is a bit of a strange one, I am not sure how to go about it but I'm trying to be mature about this, but I am rather annoyed as the title suggests the story... here goes

Wednesday morning, I dropped off my EK4 (modded) to my usual garage for MOT and to get my front NS wheel bearing changed (as I know its about time, not noise but from working on my own car on the jack spin the wheel it doesn't spin as well as the other side does)

Used this garage before, did good job for me in the last 2 years naturally you would use them again, heard nothing of it until 16:30 on the same day, I called and the owner asked about my car, his exact words were "your driveshaft snapped clean off" and I asked him what do you mean it snapped? how did it happen? he said he wasn't sure and he said it just snapped straight off, may be it was the noisy you heard, not sure...

( at this point I was pretty pissed and the red mist of anger, I somehow managed to keep my cool about this still, as to me I know these B series driveshafts only can snap clean off if the car was driven under some heavy and rapid load /acceleration with a bad gear change)

He quickly went on to say he has tried to find a replacement NS driveshaft and it will get sorted but at the moment he can't seem to get a new replacement as nowhere stock it. from his side, he is "unsure" how my caar's driveshaft snapped.... from my experience and how well I know my car, it shaft might be old but please correct me if i am wrong, as the photo below.

I drove back yesterday on my lunch to speak to the mechanic and asked him about my car and what happened, he was quite vague about it and he showed me this photo and send it to me on mobile. he said, not good, the driveshaft snapped, i immediately questioned him how it happened, he said just trying to get to the MOT centre from the workshop and it just snapped... again I kept my cool and just wanted to see what he had to say about it.

I wanted to ask for a second opinion what you all think and could it be just an ageing shaft and my bad luck? or did they drive my car hard snapped it and i should just accept their story ? I just can not see how my driveshaft would snap clean off like that. I've had the car for years and this has never happened.

I've sourced a new driveshaft from Tegwa and paid for it and it will be here on Monday. car is locked up at the workshop and I have got one of theie ford fiesta to get around. none of this is an issue but my problem is how the on earth could my driveshaft snap just like this ? and the mechanic and garage is unsure of it, also what can I really do? has anyone come experience anything like this? how can a standard OEM Honda driveshaft snap like it in this photo

appreciate all your help and advice, here is the photo
driveshaft snapp.jpg
 
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Hmm that is a bit strange! I always thought oem shafts were pretty tough things and could withstand most unless you have serious power. To snap something like that. Correct me if I'm wrong. Maybe 1 of the better knowledgeable guys know.

I hear good things about J&R driveshafts so they might be worth a shout.
 
That is exactly my point, my shaft has never failed or snapped on me like that, how can the garage have it for half a day and just driven round the corner to the MOT station, and this happens....

I am baffled and I am honestly not believing their side of the story. since I came on here for a bit of advice how to go about this.

my car engine uprate wise, its a fully rebuild engine acid cleaned, B16A2 engine with DC2 cams, DC2 inlet + fueling rail, 4-2-1 manifold heat wrapped, EK9 full system + Decat. Exedy stage 1 clutch with lighten and balanced flywheel, in terms of performance upgrades that's about it. around 170bhp max? it's got about the same pace as a EP3. I just can't see how my driveshaft would snap clean off in the middle without something dramatic.

I've done my best to look after my car and this is what's made me even more angry driveshaft snapped when I left it with the garage for an MOT without any decent explanation. from what they are saying and their story, clearly I have to pay for it damage, tbh it's not the money either, it's the fact that my car could have been ragged and damaged and they are blasé about how it happened this is the part which infuriates me.
 
was from Euro car parts I believe it was around £120 - 140 Approx OEM standard shaft the shaft has it's age,

yes I'm not doubting it could fail due to age and weaken over time, I wanted to ask for a 2nd opinion, my friends into cars said this shouldn't have happened the way it did and said likely my car was driven under stress

they words were: "it happened just before it reach the MOT station" MOT was not carried out yet.

thanks that J&R shaft looks good, my guess is that i would have to buy both sides? what about the half shaft ? will I need to replace that too if I went for one of these J&R shafts?
 
Yeah that sounds suspicious to me. If it broke on the brake rollers or whatever, they would've surely said that first and explained it honestly. Sounding like there's no true reason and not offering to pay up, even split half payment between you. To snap a driveshaft like that, surely it has to be under some load? They're not huge but not exactly twigs either that would snap from regular driving. I know cars on high mileage still on stock oem shafts no issues :/

You can buy those JR shafts each side, check the website or their ebay page. Your half shaft shouldn't need replacing no, just splits apart. Double check all the splines are clean and joints etc
 
Probably been hard launched and due to it's age, snapped. Seen oem ones go so they're not that strong but only on hard acceleration, would only do that type of damage under serious load.
 
Sounds like they launched it and the old shaft gave up, nothing too strange really. J&R shafts on my car, 70 quid for both sides and they lasted about a year, that's with the car used on track, with ramped up Cusco diff and semi slicks or rally tyres on so they see a lot of abuse. Not worth getting upset about, since it happened in their care they should not charge you any Labour but it's up to them really. Strange things happen, my fuel pump once gave up half way through MOT test, they had to push the car off the ramp.
 
So tegiwa sold it to you but its a eurocarparts shaft?

does sound like they're to blame, bunch of young lads working there?
 
Thanks guys, yes i am a bit annoyed about it thanks for confirming and the fact that the said they don't really know what happened and it just snapped. it would be nice if the technician just owned up rather than saying it was my car's wear and tear. I don't even launch my own car and knowing that they did annoys me also as i take great care of the care. he is in his early 20's, the owner is an old guy.

the owner is pretty good so i will see what happens once the MOT and my shaft turns up Monday and they fit it. this shaft is an OEM shaft and has never been snapped, i know the previous owner he had it from 2010 ive had the car since 2014. car has been well looked after and respected. the new shaft i brought is from Tegiwa.
 
It’s entirely possible that a driveshaft that could be near 20years old finally gave up ?

If they hit a pothole under acceleration that could be just as bad as a hard launch.

If you’ve got a courtesy car off then then at least you’re covered for a bit. If the garage is decent then I’d just suck it up, could have happened to you in the middle of nowhere.
 
thanks, I completely understand and you are right, i respected since day 1 of ownership I've done as much as I can to maintain and that's why i was a bit annoyed about.

i've got the car back with the new tegiwa shaft, drives perfect, it's put me on a spending spree now to make it better lol
new clutch kit and a S80 4.7 LSD gearbox I sourced some time ago will finally go in end of the month.
 
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