Technical 4X4 PROP-SHAFT MOUNTING

[WitleyPanda]

Question? How do you know when this worn out. Have clunky when hit bumps, small pot holes. Bushes, springs, shocks all good, (replace one front spring than lost a coil). Done the MOT style check, Jack it up , use short bar to try to find any play. When I grab rear prop it seems to move easily and potentially excessively in the bearing, but no metal to metal. Or is this the 4x4 engagement as the sensors think a front wheel slipping? Not heard it till recently and getting worse. It a 1.3 4x4 , 106k miles.

Anywhere else I should seek this source from?

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

When the rubber ring splits… I’ll find a photo (there’s plenty on here in other threads)

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

Take a look at the photo here
Post in thread 'Panda 4x4 clonking/juddering'
https://www.fiatforum.com/threads/panda-4x4-clonking-juddering.502664/post-4699775
Zoom in and you can see the rubber is starting to split where it is bonded to the outer metal ring. This is on my 4x4 but taken a while ago. (Edit - almost a year to the day, as it happens!)

No mention at my recent mot but The Fiat Workshop Royston have flagged it as something to watch. The actual bearing itself doesn’t fail - just this supporting rubber ring.

If you’ve got over 100,000 miles from it, it’s done well as often fail well before then.

Also worth a check is the engine support at the back centre of the engine, under the car near the exhaust and propshaft. Here too a rubber part rots leading to movement which can be a clonk, especially if heavy on or off the throttle.

 

[petebarchetta]

Hi All, 2019 69 plate panda cross 0.9 petrol, recent service brought up the propshaft bearing / donut has 80% perished. Dealer fix is new propshaft assembly at £2.5K. I see some youtube vids that pop the UV off the splined shaft and replace the £50 bearing and then re-assemble. Anyone managed to do this as a 69 plate currently £7800 book price with a 2.5K part bill due to a £50 part from inherent bad design seems horrific but will not pass MOT due to issue......
Anyone split the shaft and can advise which bush i need to order?

 

[JayAre]

thinking independents - where r u?

 

[BopBopBop]

Hi All, 2019 69 plate panda cross 0.9 petrol, recent service brought up the propshaft bearing / donut has 80% perished. Dealer fix is new propshaft assembly at £2.5K. I see some youtube vids that pop the UV off the splined shaft and replace the £50 bearing and then re-assemble. Anyone managed to do this as a 69 plate currently £7800 book price with a 2.5K part bill due to a £50 part from inherent bad design seems horrific but will not pass MOT due to issue......
Anyone split the shaft and can advise which bush i need to order?

I have just had mine replaced as detailed here.

Propshaft | FIAT Panda (2012+)

thanks to Koalar for heads up, posted on wrong thread https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/143517801062?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&siteid=0&customid=&campid=5335817148&toolid=10001&mpt=5325218 Looking if anyone can help in confirming this will fit Panda cross 2015 diesel NL65 UBS And can...

www.fiatforum.com

 

[petebarchetta]

thinking independents - where r u?

Down south UK, A number of garages wont do the propshaft splitting which is a pain as its kinda a £60 part that screws a whole assembly by naff design, so prefer to get recon / new prop and throw that in, its still an £7-800 fix but waaaaay better than £2.5k part from dealer

 

[JayAre]

Down south UK, A number of garages wont do the propshaft splitting which is a pain as its kinda a £60 part that screws a whole assembly by naff design, so prefer to get recon / new prop and throw that in, its still an £7-800 fix but waaaaay better than £2.5k part from dealer

in that case worth investing the cost of a phone call to Dean at Small Car Services (near Southampton/Winchester) - probably the most highly praised Fiat independents on FiatForum for expertise, excellence+price - details in link below and praised in many other threads too

Small Car Services - Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Abarth Specialist Southampton Winchester eastleigh

www.fiatforum.com

 

[Eltezz]

Just buy a new propshaft from Des Shelly and get any local garage to fit it. Simple job, done in an hour and the Des Shelly shafts are top quality and properly balanced, unlike most of the ebay ones…

 

[petebarchetta]

just to add to this, took the car to an independent (just for my sanity) it appears the outer steel frame has partially delaminated from the rubber donut which holds the bearing race, causing a drop of about 1-2mm in the prop centered in shaft. so inherent designed junk in cheapo bush assembly hits the customer heavily in pocket. Making matters worse fiat wont replace just bush but will only refit full prop assembly due to heat assembled spline to UC joint ( no special fiat tools available). As called out same design in all four Panda 4x4 iterations over the years.

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

New propshaft (from Des Shelly as above) is £300 or so. And then 12 bolts plus those on the central guard and support. I bet it takes less than than an hour to change. I wouldn't go near a dealer to do this, by the way.

The centre bearing and its support (the metal frame and rubber doughnut) is listed as a part by this forum's preferred Fiat part specialist Shop4Parts at around £60 -- so is available -- but to be honest, if the whole thing is not much more than the labour to try to take it all apart, just do the whole thing (and end up with new UJs at the same time).

The centre support ring (the doughnut) seems to fail more easily if the 4x4 system is misused, such as being forced to operate when it doesn't need to -- the subject of other recent threads on here. Have a read through those (if you've not already) to help prolong the life of the replacement... this is a good place to start: https://www.fiatforum.com/threads/panda-4x4-shuddering-between-10-30mph.513699/#post-4788999