Front Drive Shaft Update

[terdrocket]

I need to check mine after the recent install. I lightly put the clamp on the boot end. In that the metal clamp is tight enough to stay in its groove, but loose enough that I can rotate it by hand.
I wanted it to allow the boot to move and settle where ever it needed over time without being bound at a certain location.

I need to check that no grease has made its way out.

 

[Mountain4x4]

Mine was glowing red when I pulled over.

 

[Logsplitter]

Mine was glowing red when I pulled over.

Seriously . That’s enough to put anyone off installing one

 

[Tazzieman]

Mine was glowing red when I pulled over.

Wouldn't the boot melt?

 

[Dokatd]

Wouldn't the boot melt?

I'd have to assume the boot had been gone for some time. They only get this hot when the grease leaves the chat.

 

[Commodore]

Just waking up, long night on the road. The small lift and terra, survived over 15K miles, exploded on the highway towing. Not sure its just the boot. I think what did me in was towing over undulating roads sending it out of spec. Believe me, Ineos is well aware of this disaster, but no solution in site. They relied on Dana for the design and are VERY pissed I assure you. Thankfully removing the shaft and driving in 4 lock gets you down the road. New shaft from Agile on the way.

Curious, how do you know Ineos is aware of this issue because they sure seem to be silent on the topic?

 

[Mountain4x4]

My boot was perfect the day before. Since I was out wheeling I kept checking it. It is unlikely the boot was the root cause. When I pulled over there was clouds of smoke from burning rubber, but by the time I crawled under the boot was melted away, and the cup around the joint melted nearly completely away, and the gear at the end just a blob. That was in maybe a few thousand feet at 70 MPH.

I spoke with Hans Peter about the issue and he literally went into a full rage over it. Dana did the design for them, and he was like " 50 years designing driveshafts and they screwed me" . He did not indicate any solutions on the horizon yet. But they know reliability is so important to the brand, and I believe something will get resolved down the road. Make sure if you have a failure its reported through warranty claims. Dont just install a new aftermarket shaft, so they can see the failure rate.

 

[Zimm]

It would be interesting to see one of those thermal videos of the boots (stock and Terraflex) after 10, 15, 30 minutes of driving on both a stock and lifted Grenadier.

I have ideas like this but not the equipment to actually follow through.

Ya know, I carry a flir. i'm going to start recording after drive. The data may be helpful, even tough I wont have a "new" baseline.

 

[Dokatd]

My boot was perfect the day before. Since I was out wheeling I kept checking it. It is unlikely the boot was the root cause. When I pulled over there was clouds of smoke from burning rubber, but by the time I crawled under the boot was melted away, and the cup around the joint melted nearly completely away, and the gear at the end just a blob. That was in maybe a few thousand feet at 70 MPH.

I spoke with Hans Peter about the issue and he literally went into a full rage over it. Dana did the design for them, and he was like " 50 years designing driveshafts and they screwed me" . He did not indicate any solutions on the horizon yet. But they know reliability is so important to the brand, and I believe something will get resolved down the road. Make sure if you have a failure its reported through warranty claims. Dont just install a new aftermarket shaft, so they can see the failure rate.

Did you feel the boot with your fingers the day before or just pop your head underneath? Or did you go through a water crossing by chance.

Somehow the grease was washed out completely or foreign debris got in the joint. Otherwise it must have been a bad joint.

Even with hundreds of miles on torn boots mine have both retained some amount of grease.

 

[Mountain4x4]

I felt it, no water crossings, maybe a puddle. The issue I think was exceeding the extremely limited range of motion it allows while bouncing along with a trailer behind it. Its the limited range of motion allowed in the design that is the issue. Anything, small lift, too much articulation, big bump can cause failure. There may be some boot failures that occur first and allow the grease out. But no amount of better rubber is going hold up to being pinched, and when the joint grenades the boot goes away.

 

[Dokatd]

I felt it, no water crossings, maybe a puddle. The issue I think was exceeding the extremely limited range of motion it allows while bouncing along with a trailer behind it. Its the limited range of motion allowed in the design that is the issue. Anything, small lift, too much articulation, big bump can cause failure. There may be some boot failures that occur first and allow the grease out. But no amount of better rubber is going hold up to being pinched, and when the joint grenades the boot goes away.

Agreed, so you have a lift or no? You're suggesting the front end was light due to a trailer? And bouncing the front caused just enough extra angle to cause contact?

With stock shocks the joint can't make contact with the shaft if that makes since. I have longer Kings which allow it to get a bit closer than stock shocks.

 

[Mountain4x4]

Yes I have the small Elibach spring lift. Not really light, and honestly the Grenadier tows great for an SUV with 35s. But HWY 550 has terrible undulations due to expansive soil. It is terrible for towing, a great test though.