A good place to get bad news...

[Jack Olsen]

I'm lucky.

A meeting I had scheduled this morning got moved, so my morning opened up for me. I've got a track day next Wednesday, and I had four new tires mounted the other day. Suddenly, I had time to put them on.

My garage isn't very big. But it's clean and pretty well equipped for most of my suburban-dad tasks. The in-the-floor lift makes working in the small space easier, and in the past couple of years I've updated all of my cabinets so that things are actually pretty organized now.



Lift, you say? As the kids might say, 'Hells, yeah.'



Today I went out to swap in the new wheels/tires and also swap out two cameras to replace a pair I'd been using.

These are inexpensive key-fob-shaped HD cameras that come from China and cost ~$40. I use three of them in the car -- one attached to the front windshield, one pointed at the driver inside the cabin, and one on the back license plate. The manufacturer recently came out with a new model with a wide angle lens built into it. Previously, I'd had to buy a wide angle lens separately and attach it with glue. One of my lenses was coming loose, so I decided to spring for a pair of new ones.

Here's the old one and the new one. The cameras are already small, but without the extra lens they'll be even less noticeable. As a bonus, the new lens has a wider field of view than the old one.



In the picture, you can see the 'high-tech' mount I use to attach the camera to the stalk of my rear-view mirror.

I also added one other thing, since the mount is subject to shift around and there's no video monitor on it to see if it's level. This is a little bubble level that they make to adhere to the sides of an RV or trailer so you can see if they're level when you're jacking them into their resting position. I trimmed off some of the plastic and hit it with black spray paint. Now it should be pretty easy to verify that I'm not going to get too crooked of an image.



But what about that bad news?

Well, I got the old wheels off, and did a little work on improving the ducting around my front oil coolers. Then I checked where I was on brake pad all around. Fine. And then I noticed a little smudge of grease on one of my coil springs. A little investigation, and I found a split in one of my four CV boots. I've got no idea how long it's been there -- it hadn't lost much grease yet. But my CV joints are important to watch, since one of the mods on my car was to move the drivetrain forward about an inch and a half. This means the angle of each CV joint is more acute than it was designed for. I go through a new set of half axles about every two or years on average. And I write down the install dates on the axles so I can track it.

Sure enough, this pair was installed in November of 2010.

But here's the good part of it. It's raining outside. I'm in my garage, which is dry and warm. The place is cleaned up and ready for work. I've got some 1970s-era Springsteen going on the stereo. I've got a pot of hot coffee and a couple of unexpected hours at my disposal.

And I've got Pelican Parts -- which can ship stuff so quickly that I get it the next day. Remember, track day on Wednesday. If I'd discovered this on a check the night before the event, I would have had to stay home.

The axle nuts aren't much of a headache when you pop them off every two years. My cheapo HF impact wrench took care of them without breaking much of a sweat. Also, since I've been down this road before, I've got the right XZN tool to get the CV joint bolts off. Bing-bang-boom. Everything goes quickly. For a few moments, I can imagine I actually know what the heck I'm doing.





(Note: Wayne's book.)

I'm glad I checked the stuff today. At Willow Springs, the failure of the joint with the cracked boot (on the left side) could be a real problem, since the track is mostly made up of very fast right turns -- one of them is a 130-mph corner. Having a CV joint disintegrate there would, well, suck.

Now, one sensible option would have been to rebuild the joint with the bad boot (two actually, I later found a smaller crack in the inside joint on the other side -- I don't think it was even leaking yet). But with the sharper angle I'm running, I don't want to have to worry about second-guessing the wear on the balls and cage in the thing and possibly putting myself at risk. I've got two kids now.

So, nothing really earth-shaking in this post. But it's a good contrast with a recent day where I tried to fix a wobble in the rear-view mirror base and ended up cracking the windshield. Some days are easy; some days are hard. Today was pretty good, all things considered. As good as you can hope for from a day where you have to pull two axles.

[McLovin]

Nice! Good to hear from you again. The garage is still looking good!

[gsxrken]

With the right tools, the right environment, and confidence gained by knowledge gained over the years, there is some real zen to be had when fully absorbed in a project.
There are other days that not like that, like you said. Glad this wasn't one of them.

[burgermeister]

I have had a lot of problems with the GKN boots that come on the G50 axles. They seem to have a life of about 5000 - 8000 miles. After my 3rd replacement axle, I just replaced all of the boots with EMPI replacements, and I have not had any issues since then. If the boot hasn't split, so the CVs don't need to be repacked, it's a pretty quick job (maybe 30 min) to replace both boots once the axle is out of the car.

But if your CVs are worn out, that's a different issue.

[911s55]

Jack your garage is great, nice and tidy. Is that a dial phone hanging on the wall?

David

[Jack Olsen]

Thanks, I posted this when I was on a kind of high note from finding something that could conceivably have gone very wrong for me at Willow Springs, and then also finding it in time to get the car back to 100%. (Plus, I got to spend time in the garage and not on a drive to the Valley in the rain.)

I'm still feeling good. I like working on the 911 and I like working in my little shop.

David, yes -- it's a 1951 Western Electric 354 phone. Very well built and tough as nails. With it, I never have to go around the place trying to find where I set my cell phone down.

[Mr.Doback]

Gorgeous garage, very tidy, and the car is beautiful as always.

[dshepp806]

I see the "medicinal", for sure....BEST to you,..and the Willow!

Doyle

[ShakinJoe]

I didn't think you left coasters listened to early Springsteen. Nebraska, Born to Run or Darkness?

[Matt Monson]

My experience concurs with Burgermeister's. GKN's boot quality has gone to crap and I too prefer EMPI parts these days. Earlier this year I sent a pair of GKN boots back to Pelican because while I had ordered by their separate and discrete EMPI part number in their catalog GKN boots were shipped instead.

[chockymonster]

Originally Posted by Jack Olsen

My garage isn't very big.

Hahaha! Isn't very big! I'd love a garage that size Mine is 4.7m long and 2m wide! I can only just fit a toolbox in the back.

[Dave 86 930 Fl]

Jack,

I've had the same issue with half shafts on my 930, I keep a spare in the trailer now just in case. Nice garage, warm, dry, hot coffee, beautiful car ... Life is good!

Regards, Dave

[BK911]

Originally Posted by Jack Olsen

But here's the good part of it. It's raining outside. I'm in my garage, which is dry and warm. The place is cleaned up and ready for work. I've got some 1970s-era Springsteen going on the stereo. I've got a pot of hot coffee and a couple of unexpected hours at my disposal.

It doesnt get much better than that. Maybe a different beverage, or three.

[Laneco]

Jack?

When I was doing research for a kit car we built, I ran across some information that indicated 930 CV joints are not only much stronger, but able to take much more ANGLE for load without failure than 911 joints.

I don't recall if there is a difference in flange size (which would be a change) or axles themselves - probably are changes. But if you researched it and found the point valid, and were willing to make the changes - you might reap benefits on your setup over the long run.

Just a random thought from the one of the few chicks who post in the tech forum.

angela

[will hung]

Any time I get to see Black Beauty and your garage Jack, I get inspiration.

[JP911]

Originally Posted by Matt Monson

My experience concurs with Burgermeister's. GKN's boot quality has gone to crap and I too prefer EMPI parts these days. Earlier this year I sent a pair of GKN boots back to Pelican because while I had ordered by their separate and discrete EMPI part number in their catalog GKN boots were shipped instead.

Ditto. Only the boots on the G50 axles I purchased (new from Pelican) lasted 1 track day...all 4 of them split. The Empi's have held up well and were pretty easy to install.

[weseeeee]

Nice garage, I've been thinking about painting mine and now I'm convinced...off to HD for paint. Thanks for the inspiration!

[KTL]

Originally Posted by Laneco

Jack?

When I was doing research for a kit car we built, I ran across some information that indicated 930 CV joints are not only much stronger, but able to take much more ANGLE for load without failure than 911 joints.

I don't recall if there is a difference in flange size (which would be a change) or axles themselves - probably are changes. But if you researched it and found the point valid, and were willing to make the changes - you might reap benefits on your setup over the long run.

Just a random thought from the one of the few chicks who post in the tech forum.

angela

And a GOOD random though from the chick..... IMPRESSIVE

The 930 CV joints are whoppers. See this set for sale by Josh @ Carrera6 Parts

Porsche 930 LOBRO CV's w/ Fine Spline Flanges

So it appears if Jack were to use the 930 joints on the inboard side, he'd have to shorten his axle shafts? Also note that Jack's outer CVs are not replaceable since they are welded to the axle shaft. A better choice would be to switch to the 930 axles/CVs that are bolted on both ends.

The VW sandrail hotrodders like to use 934 CVs because of their strength and angularity tolerance. I suspect that since the dune buggies have so much suspension travel, these beefy CVs are a must?




So what did you end up doing Jack? Just replace the axles entirely? Just curious since the boot kits are cheap, but a CV kit is not. That's typically why complete reman axles are a better value.

But even the reman axles aren't giving us the best chance of survival/durability. You gotta use a quality grease, even on new axles, if you're going to track or race them. Factory grease just doesn't cut it. Need to use something good like Swepco, Redline, Neo, etc. Something with a lot of sticking power that doesn't turn to juice like the economy greases that manufacturers use.

[Jack Olsen]

Thanks, guys (and Angela).

Originally Posted by ShakinJoe

I didn't think you left coasters listened to early Springsteen. Nebraska, Born to Run or Darkness?

I like it all, although I lean more to the ballads than some of those uptempo Jersey bar-band numbers. But I've seen a lot of his shows and have never come away disappointed. He seems like a very genuine guy.

Originally Posted by chockymonster

Hahaha! Isn't very big! I'd love a garage that size Mine is 4.7m long and 2m wide! I can only just fit a toolbox in the back.

It's true. It's all relative. I worked for years in alleys, borrowed driveways and under a plastic canopy. Every step forward felt great.

Originally Posted by Laneco

When I was doing research for a kit car we built, I ran across some information that indicated 930 CV joints are not only much stronger, but able to take much more ANGLE for load without failure than 911 joints.

I don't recall if there is a difference in flange size (which would be a change) or axles themselves - probably are changes. But if you researched it and found the point valid, and were willing to make the changes - you might reap benefits on your setup over the long run.

Just a random thought from the one of the few chicks who post in the tech forum.

angela

Originally Posted by KTL

And a GOOD random though from the chick..... IMPRESSIVE

The 930 CV joints are whoppers. See this set for sale by Josh @ Carrera6 Parts

Porsche 930 LOBRO CV's w/ Fine Spline Flanges

So it appears if Jack were to use the 930 joints on the inboard side, he'd have to shorten his axle shafts? Also note that Jack's outer CVs are not replaceable since they are welded to the axle shaft. A better choice would be to switch to the 930 axles/CVs that are bolted on both ends.

The VW sandrail hotrodders like to use 934 CVs because of their strength and angularity tolerance. I suspect that since the dune buggies have so much suspension travel, these beefy CVs are a must?



So what did you end up doing Jack? Just replace the axles entirely? Just curious since the boot kits are cheap, but a CV kit is not. That's typically why complete reman axles are a better value.

But even the reman axles aren't giving us the best chance of survival/durability. You gotta use a quality grease, even on new axles, if you're going to track or race them. Factory grease just doesn't cut it. Need to use something good like Swepco, Redline, Neo, etc. Something with a lot of sticking power that doesn't turn to juice like the economy greases that manufacturers use.

That's an interesting idea. I wonder if the Turbo joints could be adapted to the 85-89 axles. The jury is still out on whether the more-common failure for me is the rubber boots (probably Chinese neoprene, or whatever), or if it's the cages and balls. When the joints themselves fail, it's not always easy to know if it's because the boots cracked and the grease was compromised or if it was the sharper angle that was the culprit.

For now, I'm putting in new axles. I've got a track day on Wednesday that I don't want to miss.

But the two I took out might get taken apart, inspected and re-booted.

Originally Posted by Dave 86 930 Fl

I've had the same issue with half shafts on my 930, I keep a spare in the trailer now just in case.

Dave, your failure was with the boots? I'd hate to go to all the trouble of re-doing my hubs only to find out that I'm going to have the same problems. Any chance of getting some measurements of the 930 piece you keep as a spare? It would be interesting to see if it'd be possible to create a hybrid half-shaft.

[Jack Olsen]

Thanks again, Pelican. The package arrived at 1:15 today.



The pieces went in pretty quickly, since I'd been able to loosen everything up the day before. Here's my 'poor man's torque wrench. My body weight 26-1/2" out from center produces 340 foot pounds of torque.



Everything was wrapped up and ready to drive in 38 minutes.



Driven, re-torqued and tools put away. Lunch hour was over -- and I still had time to eat some lunch.