Alfetta Sedan Driveshaft Crack

[RLeT]

Hi Everyone, I've just spotted a crack on the driveshaft of my 1977 Alfetta sedan.  The yoke joining the rear shaft to the centre donut coupling is cracked (quite badly).  A photo is attached.

Does anyone know of shaft suppliers, and who to go to and who to avoid?  Do people make reproductions of these or do I just try to get a reverse engineered shaft made?

Any help or advice is greatly appreciated.  My Alfetta is 44 yrs old today.  Bummer of a birthday present, but at least it didn't happen on the road.

Thanks again,
Richard.

[carlo rossi]

see  how you go i thinlk i have a spare

[105gta]

I'd pull the donut off and have a proper look. Doesn't look like a crack to me. More like a casting mark. have seen similar marks before. They are poor quality castings used for the yokes.  If in doubt ask your local engineering shop to crack test it if it's not obvious, shouldn't cost much.

[RLeT]

Thanks for the comments and suggestions.  I've had another look, and it's definitely a crack, but it may not be very deep (hard to tell while everything is still assembled).  Removing the donut and having another look is good advice.

Carlo, I'd still be interested if you have a spare, but I will look at the depth also & see where that journey leads.

Kind Regards,
Richard.

[Craig_m67]

Don't forget, there is a process to remove the donut (steel band, stuff, I forget)

[GTVeloce]

Two big hose clamps usually does the job. Makes it much easier to remove and necessary for re-installation.

[Colin Edwards]

+1 for a flaw in the casting. 
A bit of judicious grinding and specialist welder should do the job.  The cast steel yoke is welded to the tail shaft.

[john m]

Once you blow up the image it's definitely a crack, but you'll know more once you remove the rubber doughnut. Yes use large hose clamps to remove and replace the doughnut. Tip, If you remove the tails hafts paint a mark across both before you split them and assemble them in the original orientation. If you didn't have tail shaft vibrations before, you will surely have some afterwards. Cheers

[LukeC]

A bit of judicious grinding and specialist welder should do the job.

My thoughts exactly. Under an hour to repair from what I can see.

[RLeT]

Thanks for all the feedback from everyone.  I'll take it on board and I'll report back what happens when I get an outcome.  A few other priorities means that this may take a while.

Thanks again.  I'll keep everyone posted.

Richard.

[RLeT]

Here's a photo of the crack now that I've removed the rear shaft.  It looks a bit nasty, I think.  Grinding this out without going all the way through will be difficult.  Careful use of a pencil grinder/burr, I think.

I'd welcome any thoughts.

Thanks in advance.
Richard.

[festy]

Another vote for casting defect, considering the shape and location.
If it is, then its been like that for 40 years...

[GTVeloce]

It doesn't look fresh. I suspect it has been there a fair while, possibly since the factory as festy suggests.