Cv Boots To Fit 1.9 Driveshafts To Gti6 Gearbox

[Ams 23 1 Cars]

My passenger side Inner and Outer CV boots have unfortunately pooped themselves and I've been searching on the forums for guidelines towards decent replacements. Most threads point towards GKN "Motorsport" CV boots so after a quick Google of said boots the main suppliers websites consistently request specifications regarding:

• Total diameter
• Bolt hole pcd
• Boot diameter
• Bolt hole diameter

I contacted the previous owner of the car to find out what parts he used, he said the driveshafts were very recent and stated I have new 1.9 Lemforder driveshafts but the inner joints have "modified collars" provided by Pug1Off to allow for good fitment to the GTi6 gearbox but could not state the dimensions for fitting GKN boots.

 

I'm not sure how to proceed at this point, does anyone know the dimensions I'll need?

 

Edit: Don't know if it's relevant but the front also has 309 wishbones and is lowered on 35mm Eibach Pro springs (Bilstien Group N dampers). Does the wider track and -35mm ride height lead to known driveshaft issues?

Edited July 9, 2013 by Ams

[Anthony 1,003]

Sticking your head under the car armed with a set of digital calipers seems like the best bet, as I've seen several different sized joints/boots fitted!

[welshpug 1,661]

GSF look to have started stocking GKN boots again recently, always found them to be pretty decent quality and fit, as Anthony mentioned, best bet is to measure up, but they should be standard 1.9 on the right hand side at least, left hand side depends if it's been bodged to use a 306 inner CV, or the 1.9 CV cut down, or the 1.9 diff or an LSD used.

[Ams 23 1 Cars]

Cheers for the replies. If there's that much variance in specs then I'd better get it measured prior to obtaining the CV boots. There's a GSF in Glasgow so I can head over there and obtain GKN boots matched to whatever the dimensions are.

An additional point I should ask about is the possible decision of having to buy a new passenger side GKN driveshaft seeing as the current one may well have accelerated wear due to lack of lubricant (will know upon inspection no doubt). After searching I've found a number of posts stating that simply bolting in 1.9 driveshaft into a GTi6 box will lead to oil leaks and is not desirable. If I end up having to buy a new GKN 1.9 driveshaft would the correct course of action be to cut down the inner CV of the new 1.9 driveshaft or would it be better to obtain a 306 inner CV joint?

 

PS - The GTi6 box has no LSD. Don't know if it's relevant but it has 309 arms, 1.9hubs, lowered -35mm and has had the disabled PAS rack arms offset leading to asymmetrical lock (I'll be correcting this when I fit the manual rack).

Edited July 9, 2013 by Ams

[welshpug 1,661]

I would fit the smaller planet gear diff or an LSD, and leave the shafts 100% standard.

[Ams 23 1 Cars]

I would much prefer that, any ideas where would I obtain a smaller planet gear diff?

 

Edit: Just to add an LSD is not currently a priority due to my use of the car being limited to sunny days and on public roads (although I would like one at some point in the future )

Edited July 9, 2013 by Ams

[welshpug 1,661]

I would say it would be a priority due to that usage

 

you'll find the smaller diff in lots of cars, any 205 BE diff, and the lower powered diesel and petrol 306's 405's xsara's 406's berlingo's partners etc etc.

[Ams 23 1 Cars]

Heh I see what your saying. I just haven't had the opportunity to put the car through it's paces since purchase 3 odd weeks ago to verify how it behaves on the road whilst giving it beans. I need to fit three wheel bearings, the manual rack + lower column (I have these bits ready to go on), and set the suspension geometry. But I'm currently stalled by this oddball mix'n'match inner CV joint/driveshaft stuff. I'd honestly be at a loss if it were not for the info provided above. I think I'll just grab the GKN boots tomorrow, throw them at the garage along with the other items, get the car in condition, hit the road hard and THEN accept fate and begin hunting for an LSD.

[Miles 331 1 Cars]

:Problem with mixing and matching CV parts is the age and wear rates of newer and old worn out parts unless you have the measurements to check them. It's a pain in the arse when people don;t change the diff's as it's a 5 minutes job with the box out, I have seen by a well known tuning company to cut the end of the splines that fit into the diff and grind (Badly) the shaft down so it fits in the Diff.

[Ams 23 1 Cars]

Indeed it's annoying that such a simple and easy change wasn't made during the conversion process. Up till the point the CV boots burst I naively presumed, in the Pug world, that 1.9 driveshafts were freely interchangable with the 6 speed box/diff. I'm surprised that people/tuners opt to bodge the fitment, I mean why not at least install a cheap 205 diff as part of a 6 speed conversion? It's just another job I'll have to add in my list of (in my opinion) corrective work to the car.

[Ams 23 1 Cars]

Just to update I had the driveshaft sorted today along with the wheel bearings at a transmission specialist in Glasgow. Fortunately upon inspection they informed the driveshaft joints were fine. This is probably down to to the fact I've barely driven it (it's a second car), avoided rain and the CV boots expired was recent. I also informed them look at the hub for me (I've read the threads warning of ovalling), and to to sleeve if possible - fortunately they were also fine. The wobbly feedback in steering and pedal when braking has gone as well.

Negatives are the tracking has gone slightly more off than it had before (to be expected, not fussed as I have a rally shop to sort the geometry soon along with the mahoosive rake the car is currently sporting) and a bastard scratch in my otherwise mint wheels . Seriously I have nearly a 100% hit rate of wheels getting chipped by slack wristed employees removing wheelnuts from my cars over the years. Anyway the owner was nice and said he'll sort it out.