[MatthewL]

Thanks everyone. In the end I found the cv joint off the shaft and the new snap ring quite bent. I think what’s happened is mechanic error (me). The new cv joint is a nice tight fit on the shaft and I think I didn’t drive it quite far enough on so the snap ring didn’t get into position. I’d tapped it with a hammer to check it was locked but the tight fit had convinced me it was locked on. Measured the depth the shaft needed to go in this time to be confident. Taken it for run and done some full lock set-offs - all is well.

Interestingly a friend brought round some Honda civic drive shafts - late 1990s vintage. Snap rings are 2mm diameter vs about 1.6 for the R8 so snap rings not interchangeable. I suspect, as suggested, a concerto shaft would have worked but I’m pleased to have got the original working and to work out what went wrong.

Also interestingly the new cv joint made a fairly coarse noise for about a mile before the noise abated - quiet after about 4 miles - despite packing with grease I’m assuming the cv joint was very tight and has now loosened with the noise. Wasn’t expecting that though. Will keep an eye on it. Or ear.

[961tat]

Cool good to hear what make or supplier was the CV joints ?

[MatthewL]

I’ll check the box but I think it was a Shaftek. I’d had it in stock for ages. I don’t know how you gauge quality on these things but it seemed ok.

I’d also changed the hub. The original job was to change the bearing. Had to cut the pinch bolt to get the hub off the car which would then need drilling out, so I bought a second hand hub. When it arrived the bearing in it was smooth and with no play so I didn’t change it as I needed the car back in action. That is still an unknown so could be the cause of the noise, but turning it by hand it looked felt perfect.

[SteveB]

According to all the 'bumf', wheel bearings were designed to last the 'service life' of the car. Of course, it depends what you mean by 'service life'! I replaced them on my old car at 160 odd thousand - to be fair they were still ok, it just seemed like a good idea as I was 'doing up' the rest of it.

[961tat]

According to all the 'bumf', wheel bearings were designed to last the 'service life' of the car. Of course, it depends what you mean by 'service life'! I replaced them on my old car at 160 odd thousand - to be fair they were still ok, it just seemed like a good idea as I was 'doing up' the rest of it.

Yes ive heard that also but done few and they either work or have play in them depending who bearings you use and the condition of the hub bore.

[MatthewL]

I’m just adding some Lanoguard today to the car before I use it again but I suspect that I may have picked up a stone in the caliper. My drive is gravel. The bearing sounded good, unlike the one in the hub I took off. Car is at 102,000 miles now.

[MatthewL]

Found the issue! The brake disc heat shield was bent over and rubbing the disc at the bottom. Bent it away with pliers - sorted!