Lude Generation

I have a (I think) 3rd gen (1991 J-reg pop-up lights 4WS etc).
Front right/driver side driveshaft snapped right through without any warning months ago.
I've tried to find a replacement SOOO many times. Even ordered a few only to return them when they blatantly aren't correct (ruthless breakers!)
I've found one on ebay in Japan:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HONDA-Prelud ... Sw3qdbOrZK

...I'd swear this looks like the most promising one yet. Visually it's spot on. I've asked about it but it's obvious they can't be bothered with me because they claim "because it's foreign it won't fit" and then "try USA or Europe" ?!??!!

Anyone out there got any opinion or knowledge?
Cheers....

Woah - the driveshaft actually snapped? I'm pretty sure it's possible to get driveshafts made/re-manufactured here in the UK - how bad is it?

Did it really snap through the solid bar!!?? Or do you mean the inner or outer joints fell apart?

That driveshaft does indeed like about right but check/ask about the number of splines on the interface to the hub. They're different through the years on 3G's. IIRC 28 for the '91 onwards but dont quote me.

I'm sure you can find a car breaking on Ebodge for a driveshaft. New complete shafts are over £200.
I recently had new CV joints on my 3G and they where hard to find but good in the end.

Automatic or manual ?

If it has the harmonic damper thingy it can rust underneath without knowing and then snap if going from forward to reverse or visa-versa quickly Ive seen and had it happen a few times.

Have you checked rock auto?

If the joints are good and it's just the shaft that's snapped, it would be possible to get a replacement made (there will be a specialist in the uk somewhere that can do it) but it won't be cheap.

Hello.
Yes it snapped right through!
It went whilst I was 3rd to 2nd gear changing. When you look at the break you can see that it was already partly broken. At least two-thirds/three-quarters of the break surface was already rusting. And in response to crxdriver - Is the ring that's on the shaft (close to one of the CV joints), the harmonic damper? Cos just inside/under that is where it went.

It's a manual by the way.

I've tried asking the seller (linked in the orig post) about the spline-count.
Mine is 28 one end (hub) and 27 the other.

That was what the seller couldn't be arsed to find out for me. When I pushed the question a bit, they suddenly got all 'this is too much trouble' on me y'know.
Do I risk it?? Isn't there any way I can figure out if it IS the right one?
They can't be right about their parts not fitting foreign cars cos they're a japanese supplier selling under a uk specific shop name.
There is another possibility by the way...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HONDA-PRELUD ... 4#shpCntId

...but it hasn't got the ABS ring and it's from an automatic unlike mine. Would that be a problem ??
Oh, and the other problem is that I've phoned them, texted them, emailed them, ebay messaged them.. and NO RESPONSE of any kind !!?!??!!

Money is not unlimited, I really am working to a budget. How much would it cost to get it re-made??
I know old cars are money pits sometimes but mine is pretty good. After a cam-belt went (after only 40,000 too), I had the engine block sent away and sorted etc and it's been running better than ever in the two years since.

I don't know what else to do. I've tried looking everywhere time and time again. Loads of breakers, ebay repeatedly, every place that gets recommended, whatever.... Like I said, I've ordered several, all turned out wrong. Since bringing the broken part back from the garage, I can be more precise on my requirements. But it's real difficult and in the meantime, my dear Prelude is just sitting there...

It's a little bit of a gamble, but if I were in your shoes, I'd buy that £40 one you just posted. Here's why:

1 - the short shaft is the same auto or manual, so it should be the same as yours
2 - if either end is incorrect, you can probably swap on the inner/outer cv from the snapped shaft, or buy just the relevant CV

I think you'll at least need to swap the outer CV to retain ALB (ABS) anyway.

voltaire1Hoping this will help you in your search I know its likely to be a fair few miles away but its been up for a while. Seen it again last night.

https://www.gumtree.com/p/car-replaceme ... 1302207613

indigolemon wrote:It's a little bit of a gamble, but if I were in your shoes, I'd buy that £40 one you just posted. Here's why:

1 - the short shaft is the same auto or manual, so it should be the same as yours
2 - if either end is incorrect, you can probably swap on the inner/outer cv from the snapped shaft, or buy just the relevant CV

I think you'll at least need to swap the outer CV to retain ALB (ABS) anyway.

A vote for above being correct, here.

And yes, the rubber doughnut is the harmonic damper.