Honda Driveshafts

[Kewy]

I've developed the dreaded judder whilst accelerating at higher speeds on my CL7. Gut feeling is that its the driveshaft(s) which seem to be a common problem on these cars.

Don't intend for this post to be a diagnose my issues post – the car is booked in to be looked at next week and all will be revealed.

My question is – what are peoples experiences with driveshaft replacements, in particularly after-market vs OEM?

Reason being, it seems that lots of Honda owners I talk to swear by OEM, some have had good experiences with after-market. A couple of garages I have spoken to have looked at me like a crazed idiot when I've said I'm thinking of getting OEM driveshafts.

To put things into perspective, for all three shafts (n/s, o/s and intermediate) I've been quoted around £1650 from Honda. Insane shafts do a replacement set (not including intermediate) for £475… I've also been offered an 'unbranded' set for £375.

Do people feel its important to change all shafts at once? Or should I just be focusing on finding which is causing the problem and replacing that?

[elliot438]

OEM is always better but I never like the idea of used shafts and brand new are silly money. I ran J&R shafts on my EK4 with no problems other than one of the boots split after a week but i'm not sure if my brake line was rubbing on it. They replaced it anyway. Ran one on my DC2 also and had no issues. So for my J&R are worth a shot if they do them for your car as they will replace a failed product. I believe they have an ebay shop too.

[Kewy]

elliot438 said:

OEM is always better but I never like the idea of used shafts and brand new are silly money. I ran J&R shafts on my EK4 with no problems other than one of the boots split after a week but i'm not sure if my brake line was rubbing on it. They replaced it anyway. Ran one on my DC2 also and had no issues. So for my J&R are worth a shot if they do them for your car as they will replace a failed product. I believe they have an ebay shop too.

Thanks! I'll check them out.

Yeh I agree about the silly money for OEM – however if they're 'worth' spending the extra money then I'd rather just bite the bullet and not compromise I think.

[Supateg]

I’ve had quite a few dealings with honda driveshafts over the years.

I restored a Crx in 2006 with 90,000 on the clock. I stripped inspected and cleaned the joints with honda boots & grease - still no issues today with 145,000.

I have a DC2 track car which developed the cv joint judder at speed. Decided to replace the driveshafts with fidanza ones. These lasted a few years. I was in the same dilemma oem expense or aftermarket? Found ‘Raxles’ specialist in USA oem refurbished and got a set sent over, with the duty they were half the price of oem uk. They lasted a good eight years before I did a K swap last year. I refurbed the EP3 inners myself and bought honda DC2 outboard joints. They seem to be working fine considering 200bhp at the wheels.

Oem for me too ( also have a CL7 so I am quite interested in this post)

[Kewy]

Supateg said:

I’ve had quite a few dealings with honda driveshafts over the years.

I restored a Crx in 2006 with 90,000 on the clock. I stripped inspected and cleaned the joints with honda boots & grease - still no issues today with 145,000.

I have a DC2 track car which developed the cv joint judder at speed. Decided to replace the driveshafts with fidanza ones. These lasted a few years. I was in the same dilemma oem expense or aftermarket? Found ‘Raxles’ specialist in USA oem refurbished and got a set sent over, with the duty they were half the price of oem uk. They lasted a good eight years before I did a K swap last year. I refurbed the EP3 inners myself and bought honda DC2 outboard joints. They seem to be working fine considering 200bhp at the wheels.

Oem for me too ( also have a CL7 so I am quite interested in this post)

Thanks for the info mate, sounds like the ones from Raxles were a good purchase? My dilemma is the risk involved in going aftermarket – even if they're half the price. If they continue to have issues and then I end up having to buy OEM then I'm royally screwed. I can just about afford to go OEM so may just bite the bullet and do that. Some will probably think I'm crazy spending that much on shafts but it just seems like the safest option.

The shafts are coming off next week to be inspected, was suggested that I just pack with grease and put back together could cure it, might try that first if they don't look in bad shape and see how it goes.

Ah nice mate got any photos of the Accord? I've got a Reader's Car post going on mine if you've not seen it already, check it out if you have a bit of spare time!

[Ellb123]

Im not sure if J&R do driveshafts for your car, but I used them for my EK and they were perfect, pretty cheap, next day delivery and 3? years warrenty iirc.

If they do them its definately worth a go, massive saving over OEM.

[Kewy]

Just an update on this.

I managed to get some second hand shafts off another Accord for £80 (couldn't really go wrong with that).

They were fitted a few weeks back, and initially and with moderate driving they have made a huge improvement.

HOWEVER Over the weekend I did a lot of miles of fairly spirited driving and unfortunately there is still a judder. Mainly in third gear and strangely its not consistent, sometimes it will pull all the way through 3rd and into vtec as smooth as silk, then on the next pull it will judder all the way through.

Also finding its more apparent when turning right.

I've since spent some of my budget on new LCA's and a RARB so I can't even really afford to buy some new OEM shafts now, will need a couple of months to save up a bit again. Will I ruin any other components by driving with a bit of wobble in the shafts?

I'm also very nervous about forking out that sort of money and being in the same position I am in now.

Trip to TGM in a few weeks I think to get Tom to have a look at it.

[Riknos]

Kewy said:

Just an update on this.

Trip to TGM in a few weeks I think to get Tom to have a look at it.

I would do this. In my experience Tom will never try and rinse you for parts you don't need, just honest advice and good quality work.

[Kewy]

Riknos said:

I would do this. In my experience Tom will never try and rinse you for parts you don't need, just honest advice and good quality work.

Yeh I agree mate, still not got round to sorting it but once I've been paid I'm going to get it booked in with him to check a few things over and give it a full service.