Front-wheel drive vehicles are great – until a drive shaft fails

Replacing a drive shaft on a vehicle can cost several hundred pounds. They are common failure items on front-wheel drive vehicles. It’s an expense that can easily be avoided if you have five minutes to spare, know what to look for, and have good eyesight.

The drive shaft is the bar that drives the front wheels of a vehicle. Rubber gaiters are located at each end of the shafts. These gaiters prevent water from damaging the bearings at the end of the drive shaft; the part called the constant velocity joint, also commonly known as the CV Joint. The drive shaft gaiters can tear and regularly fail on the annual MOT test. Once moisture has gone past the gaiter, the drive shaft will normally need replacing within weeks – sometimes days. So waiting for the annual MOT is not a good idea.

The first signs of drive shaft damage will be a clicking or knocking noise, especially when turning a bend. The knocking will become more severe; driving the vehicle at this stage is dangerous as the drive shaft can separate from the wheel and cause an accident.

Drive shaft gaiters should be visually inspected regularly. Look for signs of wear, cracking or splits in the rubber gaiters. If in any doubt, replacement is recommended to avoid the more costly job of replacing the complete driveshaft should a gaiter fail.

A new Do-It-Yourself ‘Easy fit drive shaft gaiter kit’ has been developed that allows a replacement gaiter to be fitted without using tools or needing to remove any other parts whatsoever. The new kit includes everything required to carry out the job in about 15 minutes. According to the supplier, a motorist with the most basic D.I.Y experience will find the kit simple to fit.

The kit includes a replacement gaiter that has a tongue and grooved seam. Also included is a knife to remove the old gaiter, grease, ties and a special adhesive to seal the new boot in minutes. The kit also includes latex gloves and full Do-It-Yourself instructions. The gaiter is universal and designed fit most vehicles on the road. Having a single gaiter fitted at the dealers can cost up-to a £100.

Mail order specialist, Car Parts Direct supplies the ‘Easy Fit Drive Shaft Gaiter kit’ at a cost of £17.57. If you’ve left it too late to replace your gaiter and require a replacement drive shaft or CV Joint, a full range is also available at around half the price of a franchised dealer – visit carparts-direct.co.uk.