Phil, I recently replaced all the boots on my driveshafts and bought and
returned all kinds of clamps from NAPA and CarQuest. The CarQuest clamps
had lockdown ears but were only single wrap; the NAPA clamps were double
wrap but had no lock down ears. One of my outer joints was bad so went to a
driveshaft shop here to get a replacement and while there I complained about
the problems I was having trying to find a decent clamp. The manager told
me that they could fix that. I brought in both my driveshafts -- they
installed the outer joint and my new boot, then installed their clamps on
both shafts. Their clamps are double wrapped with lock down ears and are
slightly wider than the clamps carried by the auto parts stores. They
guarantee no leaks -- they install lots of these things every day. The best
part of the deal was they did not charge me for the clamps.
While I was there I noticed a half-shaft in two pieces laying on the
counter. It had been twisted about two turns before it finally broke in
half. This shaft was tubular, about two inches in diameter with wall
thickness about three-sixteens of an inch (I don't believe it was a quarter
of an inch thick), I asked what it came from -- the manager said it was off
of a Hummer. He then added 'Hummers have lot's of torque'. I believe that.
Lee Garland, '75 Eleganza, Phoenix
returned all kinds of clamps from NAPA and CarQuest. The CarQuest clamps
had lockdown ears but were only single wrap; the NAPA clamps were double
wrap but had no lock down ears. One of my outer joints was bad so went to a
driveshaft shop here to get a replacement and while there I complained about
the problems I was having trying to find a decent clamp. The manager told
me that they could fix that. I brought in both my driveshafts -- they
installed the outer joint and my new boot, then installed their clamps on
both shafts. Their clamps are double wrapped with lock down ears and are
slightly wider than the clamps carried by the auto parts stores. They
guarantee no leaks -- they install lots of these things every day. The best
part of the deal was they did not charge me for the clamps.
While I was there I noticed a half-shaft in two pieces laying on the
counter. It had been twisted about two turns before it finally broke in
half. This shaft was tubular, about two inches in diameter with wall
thickness about three-sixteens of an inch (I don't believe it was a quarter
of an inch thick), I asked what it came from -- the manager said it was off
of a Hummer. He then added 'Hummers have lot's of torque'. I believe that.
Lee Garland, '75 Eleganza, Phoenix
