Drive Line Slop

[ctuinstra]

Since our build has been completed for some time now and has been very reliable and fun, there have been a few things along the way that have needed to be addressed. Maybe by just putting notes of some of those things up here might help others along the way. One issue that started to creep up on our car recently that had me scratching my head was a bit of excessive slop in the drive line. We noticed when cruising down a slight slope or just keeping the car moving forward where you are barely on and off the accelerator, there tended to be a big jerk when you let off and a bit jerk when you just touched the gas. At continuous long slow speeds this ends up being a constant on/off banging in the drive line. Very annoying. At first I was a bit worried that it was wear in the transmission and that it may soon need to be rebuilt/replace. Fortunately it was much less serious.

It turns out is was the splines on the hub side of the axles. The large bolt at the hub was originally tightened to specs but seems to have either loosened or there is more wear/slope in the splines. I had this happen on Kaleb's KTM ATV years ago. I just tightened the heck out of it with the air impact and that has seemed to have taken care of the problem. Maybe they need to be replaced, but the axles are new to the build. The hub maybe slightly worn.

Not actual axle. For illustration purpose only.

 

[Dale E]

This was a common problem on the Lotus Europa. The recommended fix for them is red loctite on the splines, then the nut torqued to spec. They also had a "D" washer that was bent over one or two flats on the nut. Try not to get any loctite on the threads or nut surface.

Dale

 

[ctuinstra]

I think I may have greased the splines to keep them from corroding and to cut down on wear, but that may just make it easier for them to slip.

 

[Murcielago311]

I think I may have greased the splines to keep them from corroding and to cut down on wear, but that may just make it easier for them to slip.

Well crap.
I'll have to pay closer attention next time I'm driving, I figured it was just the touchy throttle pedal. I've been using cruise control to counteract it.

 

[ctuinstra]

Well crap.
I'll have to pay closer attention next time I'm driving, I figured it was just the touchy throttle pedal. I've been using cruise control to counteract it.

Well touchy throttle is a thing and may not be the driveline slop. It's hard describe the difference. Don't get the two confused.

 

[G Atsma]

Driveline slop should feel like a bit of an edge to it, with MAYBE a slight klunk, where a touchy pedal will just be sensitive.