Why don't people do things properly? Grrr.. Propshaft UJs bodge
It drives me nuts.. why do people at large so often resort to quick/ cheap fixes for things rather than doing them properly ... it's the same whether you are talking about builders, vehicle maintenance or software development. </rant over>
One of the last things to do on my resto list was to get the rear propshaft on my SWB 460 referubished.
With some lateral play in the rear joint, I sent it off to Propshaft Services on Friday (following recomendations here) expecting them to replace and rebalance it this week.
They just called to say that whomever had done work on it before had really screwed it up -they welded a replacement UJ in place instead of staking it which means replacing the joint will be difficult, perhaps impossible. By the looks of things the shaft wasn't properly balanced either which together with the wear explains the vibration.
Hopefully the guys at propshaft will be able to sort something, otherwise its a new shaft (or a used shaft which will then have to be reconned again).. both expensive options and totally avoidable if only somebody hadn't been so ignorant/ lazy stupid. :( I hope whatever they are driving now breaks down horribly at a very inconvenient time :D
I can only echo your comments.
Having recently ended up doing a very significant part of a house refurbishment myself as I got so fed up with various trades taking obvious shortcuts (The mantra used to be if they can't see it who cares, now seems to extend to even if they can see it - who cares) I can only agree.
I had my G done and they decided to sikaflex the external trims on that cover the cabin air vents on the rear quarters - this apparently was because they damaged the pegs getting them off. Given the car was there for 4 months and I spent a lot on it this was a case of couldn't be bothered. Needless to say 2 hours of very careful work with a stanley knife (brand new paint job!!) and a bit of very careful drill work and the new bits from Merc- including 80p worth of plugs went on no problem!
Not as serious as your UJ, but all part of the same approach to life!
Just to say dont confuse poor workmanship with quality bodging...I work with african bush mechanics for whom I have the highest regard.......
Am just off for 10 days with bag full of CDI injectors washers parts and tools to deal with some bad cases of the dreaded merc black death....
Come to Axels w/end 29/30 Sept to see pictures of ghanain props cut and welded !!
I am pleased to report that I have had a great result!
The guys at Propshaft services were able to carefully machine off the spot welds, to find that beneath the washer the recesses for the clips were just fine and so were able to rebuild and stake them with new UJs as they should have been. I'll have the propshaft back tomorrow :)
To echo what others have said here - great serviece from these guys. Based in Feltham, West London.They do mail-order too, 24hr turn-around and very competitive. Speak to Paul and trell him you are a member of GWOA.
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Yes, it it incredibly frustrating!
To be honest there hasn't been that much of this kind of thing as I have gone along.. but where I have found it (like the use of silicon sealant to try to avoid water ingress into the inner wing which just locked water in and rotted it out) the common theme has been cost rather than laziness.
Similar story with the main blower vent distribution - someone at some point broke the rear distribution channel (probably fitting a radio as someone here pointed out). They just left it.
To fix it, I had the entire thing out together with the wiring loom since in addition to replacing the blower assembly, the whole dash was filled with dust and 20 years of dirt.... I could have just replaced the blower, exchanger and put it back together - no one would have known.. but I couldn't live like that so it all came out, wsa inspected, cleaned and put back together.. it won't go wrong again!