How do you remove the angle drive?

[sdg3205]

My angle drive is toast.

When I turn it at the dust cap/hub, it only catches and turns the perpendicular portion of the angle drive (off to the lower speedo cable) about 45% of the time.

How do I remove it?

[davidhamblyn]

http://deloreantech.wikia.com/wiki/Angle_Drive

one of the first jobs i did on first buying my d two years ago.

Hope this helps!

[Jonathan]

It's not too hard.

1) Jack front end up and take front left wheel off (sometimes helps to turn the wheels to the left first for access)
2) With a decent sized breaker bar, loosen the nut on the outside of the wheel first (the one under the dust cap... which you'll have removed the dust cap first). It is lefty loosey, righty tighty. Don't let anyone tell you differently. I seem to recall the nut needing a 32 mm socket but I believe there are two different sizes.
3) Only after it is loose, then go to loosen the nut on the inside of the wheel. It should come off pretty easy after the outside one is loose. This has something to do with the pieces being tapered. You won't get a socket on it so use a big open ended wrench. 1 1/4" I think?
4) The angle drive will slide out with that rear nut. If you need to get it separated from that rear nut, it has a little snap ring inside that will test your patience with small hands and tools. When patience is lost, smash it out with a hammer. This will let you use the nut again, but you'll destroy the angle drive.
5) Ideally you have a new angle drive, dust cap, lower speedo cable replacement kit and I would get a new nut too.
6) To put it all back together, the angle drive clips in to the nut with the supplied snap ring, gets threaded through the shaft (it is okay for it to be able to spin in there), tighten the rear nut, and then tighten the front nut. There is a certain torque spec for those nuts but I don't have that handy. You will get instructions from DMCMW when you order the parts. Someone can chime in here with recommendations on which nut to do first as I forget.
7) The lower speedo cable can be replaced pretty easy. Spin the angle drive connection so it is facing the cable connection. Just make sure it is aligned and straight into the angle drive receptacle. Use the cable support bracket/clip if you still have one. Use zip ties if you don't.
8) Lube the angle drive at least once per season with light gear oil.

PM me Dave if you want to talk it over and I'll give you my phone number.

[sean]

Cliff's notes version:
Jack up the front and remove the wheel

Loosen the axle nut (32mm), don't remove just loosen it. Probably need some leverage here.

Remove the lower speedo cable from the angle drive

Remove the angle drive/nut assembly. A 1 1/4" wrench will get done just make sure you turn it the right way as it can get confusing if you are working from the outside looking in. Its still lefty loosy.

Once the drive/nut assembly is out you gotta work some picks or a small screw driver in there to pop off the lock ring(your new drive should come with a new lock ring). Your patience here will be rewarded here if you just stay at it. Now, if you have no patience and are not concerned about a core charge or dont desire to have yours rebuilt then just set the axle nut in a vice and "drive" the angle drive out with a large hammer and screw driver. Again, your patience will be rewarded if you take a little time to work at it with some small tools.

Install new drive in nut with new lock ring

Install drive/nut assembly onto spindle making sure you feed the cable through the spindle.

Start to thread the nut by hand making sure the connection where the lower speedo cable connects to the drive is facing the rear of the car. Re attach the lower speedo cable to the drive.

Get the assembly on as tight as you can by hand then use the wrench to get 165lb ft torque on it, I like to use a floor jack and have an assistant sit on the fender while I do this.

TIGHTEN THE OUTER HUB NUT AS TIGHT AS YOU CAN GET IT!!! Think 200lb ft.

Reinstall dust shield

Reinstall tire, I like 70lb ft torque on lugs

Lower car and enjoy!

[DeMopar]

IF you are lucky, you may be able to get the angle drive out without having to remove the nut. I was able to get mine out by gently prying the old angle drive out with a large screwdriver. The ring stayed behind and I was able to get it out with a pick. It shouldn't matter if you damage the shaft getting it out because you will be installing the new one anyway. The one I installed from Houston was flexible so installing that way was no problem.

I just happened to try that method because the nut on my car must have been installed by a lumberjack on steroids and I didn't have a long enough wrench to get it loose. At the time, Warren from DMCH advised me that the other method MAY work and I lucked out I guess.

Good luck and let us know how you come out!

[sdg3205]

Awesome, thanks folks!

I'm grabbing the new one this weekend so you won't hear back for a few days.

Until then my GPS will be my speedometer if/when the car goes out.

[Jonathan]

How did you make out with your angle drive replacement Dave? Any tips or tricks worth sharing?

[sdg3205]

How did you make out with your angle drive replacement Dave? Any tips or tricks worth sharing?

Hey Jonathan,

I haven't even ordered the parts yet! Work became very busy the last few weeks and I've decided to hold off for the time being. With the driving season over and the holidays coming up the money is probably better allocated to traveling back to Ontario and gifts.

Thanks for checking in, though. I'll definitely revisit this thread when the time comes.

Cheers,

[Mark D]

The front hub nut on my car requires a 36mm socket, not 32mm as stated earlier in this thread... not sure if this is a VIN related difference or not.

The nuts on the rear hubs are 32mm.

[r00b]

Front hub nuts on my car are 32mm.

[TTait]

before you replace the angle drive...

In your original post you said that the dust cap only turns the angle drive half the time... your angle drive may be fine. You may only need a new dust cap.

Remove the dust cap and turn the shaft by hand, or if needed with small pliers, it should turn with the cable hooked up but with some resistance. If not unscrew the cable from the angle drive and see if the shaft then turns, with no cable hooked up it should turn easily.

You may need to replace the angle drive you almost certainly need to replace the dust cap, and you may need to replace the lower speedo cable. You can also test the angle drive with a drill. Carefully hook the angle drive shaft, or a speedo cable into the chuck, don't overtighten it - run it slowly. If that seems ok then have an assistant watch the speedo while you spin it, fiorst slowly and then faster as needed.

Find out what is really wrong before just replacing parts blind.

Even if your angle drive is toast, check the speedo cable before installing a new on, or your new angle drive will turn into your new ruined angle drive.

T

[sdg3205]

before you replace the angle drive...

In your original post you said that the dust cap onl;y turns the angle drive half the time... your angle drive may be fine. You may only need a new dust cap.

Remove the dust cap and turn the shaft by hand, or if needed with small pliers, it shoulr turn with the cable hooked up but with some resistance. If not unscrew the cable from the angle drive and see if the shaft then turns, with no cable hooked up it should turn easily.

You may need to replace the angle drive you almost certainly need to replace the dust cap, and you may need to replace the lower speedo cable. You can also test the angle drive with a drill. Carefully hook the angle drive shaft, or a speedo cable into the chuck, don't overtighten it - run it slowly. If that seems ok then have an assistant watch the speedo while you spin it, fiorst slowly and then faster as needed.

Find out what is really wrong before just replacing parts blind.

Even if your angle drive is toast, check the speedo cable before installing a new on, or your new angle drive will turn into your new ruined angle drive.

T

A hoy hoy,

I said that only the perpendicular portion turns 45% of the time. The main shaft and dust cap are fine.

I tested with a power drill already. The speedo just jumps from the angle drive and remains steady on the lower speedo cable, hence isolating the problem at the angle drive. Even if I just turn the angle drive I can see the perpendicular portion behind the hub turns only about 45% of the time. There must be a half broken gear in there.

Either way, I'd get the kit and replace the dust shield and lower speedo cable at the same time. The lower cable is getting gnarly where it meets the angle drive and chances are the dust cap is slightly out of "square" anyway with age.

As always I really appreciate your help, but just for the record I always exhaust my resources and efforts before I post for help. This often involves doing searches here first or calling Toby down at DMC. I don't replace parts blind either: trust me, it's not smart even from just a Canadian economic stand point (we can get hit with duty and pretty intense shipping fees on top of what you're used to).

I'll be more clear in the future.

[sdg3205]

Well I finally replaced my angle drive, lower speedometer cable and dust cap today.

As you all mentioned it was super straight forward.

I tightened the outer nut with my breaker bar until i threw my back out. There was no way I wanted to start a "So my pansy-ass tightening wasn't enough and my front left wheel fell off" thread.

The only difference I wanted to suggest involves the clip that holds the angle drive in the nut. I followed DMC's suggestion for over an hour trying to 'compress' it with two tiny flat head screw drivers with no luck. Eventually I just got under a corner of it and popped it out the top. The hardest part is trying to see what you're doing down there. You need a 3rd hand.

The angle drive was a little tight going through the nut, so I did a very light sand in the nut to get rid of the surface corrosion. With a little lithium grease and some lovin' it fit right in.

Not sure what everyones concern was with the shaft being too short, mine was plenty long enough, hit the back of the dust cap when it was firmly in place.

Love having my speedometer working again. The GPS was killing my vibe/harshing my mello.

[Elvis]

When I got my car there was no original clip hodling the angle drive. Instead a PO
used an O-ring which works fine for >10 years now.

I can recommend it.

[Jonathan]

Does anyone have a picture of one of these bad boys installed on their car?

http://store.delorean.com/p-7328-pipe-and-cable-brkt.aspx

Part 110528

I just got one (thanks Erik!) and want to make sure it goes on correctly. Not 100% clear on where the lower speedo cable goes or what it attachs to. Thanks!

[stevedmc]

Loosen the axle nut (32mm), don't remove just loosen it. Probably need some leverage here.

36mm on later cars such as mine built in August of 82.


Not sure what everyones concern was with the shaft being too short, mine was plenty long enough, hit the back of the dust cap when it was firmly in place.

Who did you buy your angle drive from?

[sdg3205]

Who did you buy your angle drive from?

Dmc

[stevedmc]

Dmc

I wish I would have taken a picture of my DMCH angle drive side by side with Hervey's. I've been wondering if all DMCH units have shorter shafts or if mine was just one with a defect.

[sdg3205]

I wish I would have taken a picture of my DMCH angle drive side by side with Hervey's. I've been wondering if all DMCH units have shorter shafts or if mine was just one with a defect.

Gotcha. Since they're not solid metal (more like a compressed spring!) it wouldn't surprise me one bit if there was some deviation in length.

[jawn101]

Gotcha. Since they're not solid metal (more like a compressed spring!) it wouldn't surprise me one bit if there was some deviation in length.

My Hervey one was actually TOO long - the cap wouldn't press into the wheel hub. Had to cut about 1/16th of an inch off the shaft. So there definitely must be some deviation as I haven't heard of anyone else needing to do that.

[ArnieBrandon]

My Hervey one was actually TOO long - the cap wouldn't press into the wheel hub. Had to cut about 1/16th of an inch off the shaft. So there definitely must be some deviation as I haven't heard of anyone else needing to do that.

Your other option would have been to grind off the tip covering the squared angle drive cable end and let it protude through the plastic cap. This would also allow you to later see if the squared capturing hole in the dust cap was maybe rounded out

[outatym2001]

People please read the thread below that’s titled Angle Drive Diagnostics and look at my two pictures in post number 33.
http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?864-Angle-Drive-Diagnostics