jmilz28

iTrader: (13)

Ok for those who haven't seen my threads, here's the deal in a nutshell. Carrier was shot, ordered voodoochikin's kit. Did the install but during, the center CV fell out...fiasco. Got it back together but now shaft is out of balance. No one in Texas will balance this ******, replace is what everyone said. Can rebuild for $560 shipped, buy a new Dorman with a serviceable Ujoint in the center for $640 shipped, or get aftermarket Aluminum for 900+shipping. Third option is I found a used one in town for $200, I COULD put the DIY kit on it (carrier is shot, as you'd expect). This makes financial sense IF the used shaft is good otherwise, a big "if" on wrecked car parts. THis also requires that I get through the procedure successfully. My concern here is that pulling out my driveshaft again, I was able to recover the voodoo DIY kit successfully (he said I would) but that ******* CENTER CV spilled out everywhere again. So I am stuck between chancing my ability to replace the carrier on a used shaft which may not even be good or go with the Dorman piece, which comes with a warranty and will accept voodoo's DIY kit when it needs it in a few years. It's been 6 weeks since my car drove over 40mph and it's only driven 30 miles in that time. I gotta get this going as I am starting to hate it...and I haven't even begun troubleshooting the trans/clutch/engine related vibe. No point in that until I drive it and see if it's livable. BTW, this is no slam on voodoochikin. His **** performed spot on as advertised, made a big difference, and his service is good. This is on me, **** happens, and this is probably why most places say "replace only." I WOULD like to drive this car again before I hate it and sell it. Any thoughts anyone?

Naf

iTrader: (1)

Talk with voodoo and see if he can do it for you

vroom_vroom

iTrader: (5)

If you go with an aftermarket avoid dss. Not only do they have a huge lead time lots of issues surrounding it. Talked to gforce about a one piece for over an hour and was very impressed. Friend of mine works for one of the speed shops in Ohio and they sell a lot of gforce stuff and it holds up. This was the route I was going to go had I not been able to get mine worked out with the voodoo. My cv fell apart as well.

There is no doorman compleat shaft for our cars btw. Rock auto lists one but it's for the v6 manuals nothing for the v. It's oem, gforce, or dss unless you can get some one to custom build one..........

Did you not mark the two halves when they where split?

jmilz28

iTrader: (13)

Not only does Rockauto list it, Dorman's website does too, pn 946032.
http://www.dormanproducts.com/p-8699...origin=keyword
Lists it for the V, all 4 years but not the base CTS, that's 936129 for the manual. I'm confident that it's the right part since they list both with different pics, part numbers, and OE PNs too.

I did mark the halves but when I got the shaft back from the CV shop who put it back together, the marks were gone. Used an orange paint marker, not sure what happened.

vroom_vroom

iTrader: (5)

It's an over site unless they started making it it the last 4 months. Talk to voodoo before you buy it. Hate to see you blow more money on nothing.i mean no one even makes shocks for the v, and that's a higher replacement part than a driveshaft.

Choppy_Idle

I also have negativ experiences with the propshaft, sink a lot of money for crap, bec i went to the wrong shop, so after going to the right shop and they know what they do, then they fixed it and got her smooth running...

I have my old shaft lying here disassembled, but Shipping Could be expensive, can sell it to you, before you bring your car to the junkyard, pm me, if interested...

Greetz
Ron

jmilz28

iTrader: (13)

Well, Dorman part ordered. Got another used one, marked it CLEARLY, everything was going smoothly, then as I was trying to pull the halfshafts apart, guess what happened? You got it, CV joint flies apart. **** this POS. If this part doesn't fit, they give a full refund incl. shipping. I now have 2 cores for someone who knows what they are doing...which isn't me on this deal. **** this car.

vroom_vroom

iTrader: (5)

Perhaps it's time to call some of the more we'll know drive shaft shops (not local to you) and see if you can arrange to have it shipped to them.

jmilz28

iTrader: (13)

The only ones I actually spoke to that said they could balance, only do it as part of a total rebuild - $560 shipped - Powertrain Industries. https://www.powertrainindustries.com/about.htm
I keep hearing people say they had theirs balanced but not a single company name or phone number has been offered up. I've called probably 30 places all over the country with no luck yet. Dorman part is ordered, hopefully that solves it. I may pay voodoo and offer some cores later on to have a spare, I dunno, just want to drive the car. I've now spent almost enough to have bought a CF one piece or retail for a GM part...I'm done.

voodoochikin04

iTrader: (3)

Ok man.. I don't know what you're doing when you are doing the carrier install to make the center CV joint come apart... In all the shafts we have serviced, not once has the center CV joint even came close to falling out... It can't just fall out. The only way is if you articulate the joint so far that the ***** start popping out one at a time.. are you using the jig we offer plans for with the kit? I just cannot fathom how this is happening for you?.

Also make your index marks with a paint marker and a punch so they are permanent.

The doorman part listed as having a serviceable u joint yet the picture is obviously a CV joint. If it is correct for the V it's something new. But the quality of dorman parts, especially the quality of the rubber flex disc they make, that falls apart under normal driving...I probably would have been more hesitant..

You could have called me when you were doing the second shaft for some additional help. :/

Choppy_Idle

Yes, Voodoo is right, i have seen in the right shop, there is a method to pull them apart without falling ***** to the ground, you must only know how to, isn't that complicated...

Good luck Jason!

Greetz
Ron

jmilz28

iTrader: (13)

I'm certain he's right, I should have called. I did use the jig. I also cleaned the shaft with brake cleaner before indexing with the paint marker, these aren't coming off. I think I got one with the star stuck on, I noticed some rust on the splines when I first got the cover off. I'm sure this is one of those things that's easy once you know how...and I don't. Hindsight, I'll just send it in next time. At least you guys will know if the Dorman part is any good or not.

vroom_vroom

iTrader: (5)

That would be a no.

jmilz28

iTrader: (13)

We'll find out on Wednesday-ish. If it doesn't fit, no harm no foul, don't even pay shipping. At least we'll know if it's an option. I've had good results from Rockauto plenty before so...fingers crossed.

vroom_vroom

iTrader: (5)

Just to be clear this is the entire drive shaft you ordered?

jmilz28

iTrader: (13)

Yessir

bigti99a

iTrader: (16)

seeing things like this validates why i just sent mint to voodoo instead of waiting. i am sure its not rocket science to DIY his kit but for all this BS why not just buy a core send it to him and swap it and resell your original like i did.

BudRacing

iTrader: (3)

Exactly.
I probably would have bought the $200 used shaft and sent it to Voodoo, given the OP's position.

voodoochikin04

iTrader: (3)

Thanks for the support guys. Hindsight is always clearer.

jmilz28

iTrader: (13)

My thoughts exactly.