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Olds LSS CV shaft issues

1998 Olds LSS, 3800 N/A

I swear, this bloody car fights me with EVERYTHING I do.

Long story short, I'm replacing the CV shafts. After finally finding a pair, (UGH...) the passenger side slipped in pretty much without any (insurmountable) problems. The driver's side... that's a problem. It's almost as if the halfshaft is too long, the balljoint was a major PITA to wrestle back into place and with the suspension unloaded the engine rocks side to side as I spin the hub. The passenger side seemed loose in comparison. So logically I loosened the three engine mounts (subframe sides, and at the fender) to try and nudge the engine over with only minimal success, and the shaft is still awfully tight. It's a lot better with the suspension loaded but still, this can't be right.

I think I have ruled out a bad shaft as I have tried two different remanned units and the engine mounts have been replaced in the last couple of months. I haven't stuck the old one back in to compare but I'm wondering if this is the source of the clunking-over-bumps I've had for the past year. What should have been a three hour (or so) job has now taken over two weeks while I fight with it and try to track down parts. If this wasn't my late father's car it would have seen the lake long ago.

So, any suggestions before I go looking for a nice used Dodge Magnum?

Reply to
SBlackfoot
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There are three different axle lengths for that car. The left (driver)side is 21 1/8"

The right (passenger)side is either 24 3/8" with the 2.88 ratio (FQ3) or 24 11/16" with the 3.05 (F83)axle.

Sounds like you have the wrong one.

Reply to
Steve W.

Passenger side fit fine, and it also took two tries to get the right shaft for that side (3.05 gears, the first box had the wrong part in it). It's the driver's side that's the problem. Only one shaft listed for that side and they're not interchangeable left-to-right.

Reply to
SBlackfoot

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Reply to
Shep

Now that's an interesting thought. Do you by any chance know what the difference between the shafts are in the N/A and the supercharged versions? It slipped into the tranny fine. Most places asked me if it was turbocharged or supercharged. Umm... Neither.... They didn't come with a turbo. *shrug*

Reply to
SBlackfoot

Another concern: My FSM states that the torque spec for the axle nut is a mere 107 lb-ft, 145 N-m.. That seems surprisingly low to me. Every other axle nut I have come across has been in the 175+ lb-ft range. Does this strike anyone else as being odd?

Reply to
SBlackfoot

Bolt tightening torque values vary depending on the size of the fastener. The mechanical engineers know what they are doing.....

Reply to
deskatwebtv

Yep, but how thorough are the people editing the FSMs? ;)

Even reading online, the torque spec for other 3800-equipped vehicles with similar drivelines are all at least 150+ lb-ft. My own other vehicles with similar fasteners are all specced much higher. 107 lb-ft just seems low.

For the record I DID torque it to 107 lb-ft as per the manual.

Reply to
SBlackfoot

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