Shaftec extends Driveshaft range and advises how to spot a failing part

Shaftec, the expert supplier of remanufactured and new, Drive. Steer. & Stop. parts has extended its driveshaft programme by 69 references. The new to range parts cover 789-line applications and caters for a range of models across major vehicle manufacturers including BMW, Ford and VW.

The business has focussed its efforts for this range extension on parts for older vehicles. This is in line with its ecological aims of keeping cars on the roads for longer, and philosophy of championing the remanufacturing process where possible. This decision was further driven by the latest Motorparc data released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) showing the average age of a car on the UK’s roads is now a record 8.7 years (i).

Included in the range extension, of particular note, are parts for the following vehicles: BMW 1 (F20/F21) 2012 onwards; BMW 2 (F22/F87) 2014 onwards; BMW 4 (F32/F82) 2013 onwards; Ford Fiesta MK VII 2017 onwards and the VW Crafter, 2016 onwards.

Marketing Manager, Adrian Kitchen explains: “The average car on the UK roads is now a year older than it was a decade ago. There are around 8.4 million cars in the UK which are more than 13 years old, having been in service since 2008, and owners of these vehicles need to be confident that they can get the parts they need to keep their vehicles going. This is particularly important during a very real cost of living crisis which is affecting everyone. Focussing on the latest models to make sure that parts are available for vehicles just coming out of warranty and into the aftermarket is an important part of the NTR process, but to only concentrate on this group is short-sighted in the extreme and could see garages lose important revenue.”

The drive shaft is a component of the drive train in a vehicle and is located next to the car’s wheels. Its purpose is to deliver torque from the transmission to the differential, which then transmits torque to the wheels which allow the vehicle to move.

How to spot a failing part 

Evidence of fatigue can sometimes be seen by the bar starting to twist – generally this is due to the component being subjected to having more power transmitted through the drivetrain than was originally intended.  For example, if the engine power has been increased. 

Worn inner or outer joint – you will experience an intense vibration, or knocking or clonking noises, or scraping or rattling from under the car that will get progressively louder. Changing the driveshaft can often be a cheaper, quicker and easier way of curing the problem rather than changing one joint only to find that the other joint is worn; especially when you factor in the labour time. 

In very rare instances a driveshaft bar can snap – reconfirming the very real issue of the importance of properly maintained and regularly serviced vehicles. If this were to happen, this would result in damage to the parts in the peripheral area as it continues to rotate, especially if being driven at speed, such as: suspension parts, the sump or even the gearbox. These parts would then have to be replaced which could be costly and labour intensive.