Left Rear Driveshaft for Caterham with Dedion

[CarMan]

Mayday! Mayday!

While putting on the rear brakes for the Race Next Weekend, we found the threaded end of the outer C/V joint head a crack in it where it joins the outer tulip. And when we removed the

nut, it broke off.

So, if anyone has a LH drive shaft for a Caterham super 7 with a De Dion rear end...... We could use some help quickly

 

If you have one available

Please send me an email to bgfuelsystems@gmail.com

 

 

Thanks

George Kline

[CarMan]

I must tell you this story.

This year we decided to go to a series of Major(National) SCCA races and see if we can qualify for the Runoffs. We prepped the car thru the winter months and were finishing up with new tires and brakes when we realized that we had a few problems.

The driveshaft issue is documented here.

But we also had a very nice set of Kelsey Hayes magnesium 4 piece wheels and we thought we would reseal them as a couple of them couldn't hold pressure very long. Upon further investigation, there were stress fractures in a couple of them.

So now we needed a driveshaft and a set of wheels now.

A call to Craig Chima. No problem...... He has a guy! We have new wheels (and when we mount the new tires, they make the car look a little rough.)

The Mayday post here, revealed the greatest surprise possible. I received an email from a member here who said he had a driveshaft that he would take out of his car and send to me!!! In fact he had two he would send!!!

Just three days after my "Mayday" I had a new driveshaft in the car and we were ready to race in the Majors weekend in Summit Point. AMAZING!!!

 

I have never met in person, either of these members. And yet, they share a passion to see a Caterham on the track. I am not a big time racer. I am an amateur driver who just likes getting on track and having a go.

 

Thank You!!!! Thank You!!!!

 

So, we attend the race weekend. Iffy weather and all. Never saw the track before. It spat rain most of the weekend, and we never had a real DRY session for practice or qualification.

On Saturday, we came in 3rd !! GREAT. On the podium!

On Sunday we watched the weather forecast and my competition opted for rain tires. Even though the radar said the rain would stop. They were all convinced that the track would never dry in time. So, most of us

Started on wet tires.......... And wouldn't you know, after three laps the track had a dry line !!! So the next 15 laps were an effort to find the wet parts of the track to cool the tires.

The final ten laps were just crazy as the tires lost all hope of grip. But, my snow driving experience started to pay off. In the dry, the lead car was 4 seconds a lap faster than me. But the rain tire deterioration made me the

faster car. On the final lap and the final corner, I pulled even with him............ but he had a little more snot under his hood and I finished second by .018........ Bummer.... for a second.

 

So I need to send a shout out to Craig and Mike for their help. They probably don't want any big time fuss made. But I have to let this group know what their fellow members are here for.

 

Thank you

Now we are off to Pittsburgh in two weeks.

[Kitcat]

Great story and great results! Those rear half-shafts are hen's teeth. When my RH shaft failed I ended up thinkng I'd need to buy another Caterham, just to get that part. After 6 months I finally found a replacement. And I eventually found all the needed parts to repair the one that failed, so I have the repaired one as a spare (just sayin).

[CarMan]

Thanks I'll keep it in mind.

I replaced that shaft two years ago.

So I have my fingers crossed

[CarMan]

So I guess I'll add to this post.

 

We just got back from the SCCA Majors race in Pittsburgh International racing complex. If you have a chance to go here..... You have to go!

The facility is great with all new buildings and a massive paved paddock and REAL bathrooms that are clean and heated and Air conditioned!

The staff is great and they carry dog treats with them. The place is owned by a couple who own Coastal Pet Supply and they are pet friendly.

 

They even have a go cart track with rentals. You will be addicted and spend a small fortune there.

 

The only thing they can't control is the weather......... and fire!

The Saturday race was run in a monsoon downpour and we finished second in class with my new rain tires (Toyo DOT tires)

The race was red flagged because a Mini Cooper driver couldnt see and ran into a tow truck that was extracting a car from the sand.

We had to wait for 30 minutes in a very cold rain in an open car before we could get off track.

Sunday was a VERY cold day with snow, sleet and freezing rain for qualifying.

But in the second race of the day for big block cars....... a Pontiac TA had a stuck throttle at the end of the long straight and stuffed into a tire barrier with 2 laps to go.

The crew left the car there to finish the race, but forgot to check for a fuel fire............. by the time they caught it......... The tire wall was on fire!!!

BIG TIME!!!!

Took hours to get the fire out and there was no chance of getting the tire wall fixed in time to race.

 

But this is a great facility with a challenging track(new curbing if you are looking at last year youtube videos) and some interesting turns.

There is a "corkscrew" like Laguna.............. an uphill carousel like Watkins Glen................ a series of esses like VIR and a "kink" like road america(scarey)

 

So now we look forward to Mid Ohio

 

George