Driveshaft spider bearings - weird texture

[hkz286]

Hello all

As above really. Currently rebuilding my driveshafts and took out the spider bearings to re pack them. One of the bearings has this weird texture on the surface. It almost looks like a manufacturing defects as it's so well defined. However I suspect moisture has just settled at the bottom of the bearing and caused corrosion. None of the others are affected and would go as far to say they are almost perfect.

I know it's buggered. But I'm just curious of the cause.

Also I understand no other cars share the same driveshaft as the nsx but I would be surprised if some others didn't use the same spider bearings. Anybody know for sure?

Would be a shame to scrap the entire shaft based on one surface in one part of one bearing.

Pictures are below:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v311/6453/20161223_193518_zpshgqa6mzd.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/6453/media/20161223_193518_zpshgqa6mzd.jpg.html)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v311/6453/20161223_193523_zpsxtxa6qy9.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/6453/media/20161223_193523_zpsxtxa6qy9.jpg.html)

[NSXGB]

I had a few like that on the driveshafts I rebuilt. I put it down to where the roller had worn through the case hardening.

[hkz286]

I had a few like that on the driveshafts I rebuilt. I put it down to where the roller had worn through the case hardening.

what did you do? replace them?

[NSXGB]

Yes, I was lucky and managed to find some spares from another member.

[Kaz-kzukNA1]

That’s typical sign of grease breaking down too far and no longer doing its job.
What was the colour of the grease when you opened the boot?
If it was like melted coffee ice cream and no sign of yellowish custard, the grease was already dead.

From what I can see from your photo, the depth of the damage suggests that on that particular roller, it was under excessive stress for quite some time.
The internal grease inside the roller won’t be refreshed overnight so it is very important to catch the first sign of the grease fatigue.
It's not easy to distinguish the sound of joint-roller noise from the trans gear backlash but if you rotate the wheel by hand quickly back and forth, you can catch the first sign.




https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/5SR5zkipcysSaamnnHuW5UQMqku5DimaInu7LPgypBKz1TGDKY pGb1JzMzwj1Y35HiPwCoa9Cp20XcGBXmTS7hFGkqcESR8RDwHp veM74prNybL_oCn_yHC4iswUpWbvg1zcqFdvqNk_rm24bq55Pa sVTy7NPMqyOTQkCva9dUs4bB5Cc294rW_DjED86aYfKytpalmb HxwdCKY67OSU4RXpnPElpXSCXc8HqhpzPAFuXDD2ytnCX3Jykb djPpend0s8LpcQ84iHqMIIBgZcssjP6GZ0S6OKYv2Mzb2PVe5M ps2KGitw1jUVU-tjpWQPs4pYqVxlFBGrwoIRDTQ1R_-tUCRYBFmeJsuWrxYtW0gGqpwgi9tsTcGlbKguE1jQYOn3OmP9M sWMRv3H97lGUdH_Ext_jxBsbGbfSa6tAxjHYiHMxSdqsfvSGII Hicfz_oP30y9uB5NhmAywFoxci2PPmV7jHg7tWMixP6OBaMYGZ _O6mt13uwY3IQ894eujJStDuvQDRufSJnpHgx242JBgulis14J URmVgMNLgsUrDaiwXHB5f_UZf8YdtE6IgtCb_M2su4aXNc4fJw qk0lW7EMWKISgEEZPoCD8kXqoGWybHCoOOETeqbqwByWlRoWtd eX5pPx9V3iItVw9VRz0i6FMgmB12bABRo_d1lhxU=w1080-h608-no
This is the initial stage of the damage.
Just a few small markings on the roller surface.




https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/TWowjOU_rcQRsVuckOsE2tiai3ae8djIuH4aFjijDcXfPPGDlO AidNSXcRMtl1YuS_Gn9SlOv1kUvfEHl16G4GxYCVPkKRu2_q5_ B4wV2cNMOU9I-H7Hz6BaPTO1aPl9mkAVQq9GkYeEmuKR_uUYsVRMrXiDZrRDNf6 Z0uzOfI5wqLr-hOgbQ_XiMtjLjVXDZHOXDHq3vuPKcHrhBk0tnx6C9PaNDg5qqm YFFG-JPfqd_AKsTN2GAiz0Mowur4WcR8RU6C9IwwjTk3U04JD-F-DrV0X5QzVxhZrdRwF-4LUlC1cL_SRQjJvIjYk0nx0AZQXjdgyXQusCA4qswWFx2nKFdk 8CH0bYODgpRi2SAkh8YNAV0tUVFz1UBIWluRLTHpsvbW-iAjoO-iVtDxV2n0KIV5OV6HkiHffcQmxZcJK42r1a2z-xX14_0UXvgYNjiV2Mc8jY5ydotXhH9ncrc66psUhcz02BToY5j M7_TTwKmiXyxEjZxDqd-C8V7K6R0d8a4XKzRm9ORnyESKLNoKxACHudHRsNog2Zky9Ejq4 YZwmfMZS7MWr41rW2OuRwO-2CehUuyuvyvLlpd2hVLKfgsze7-SR5iVElIvpujIYutHRuF4JXEioJs4V0P645dxp5gL4BJOupeQe bMa_rvGctPedqmop4WL2uTbj2uo4=w1080-h608-no
This is after some time when the damage spread to wider area but still only at the surface level and no serious damages.


Strictly speaking, you should replace the roller, spider and the joint housing as a set but you can live with a spare roller if the housing and the spider are not damaged too far.
Wider/larger tyre will increase the stress but the biggest factor is the much lowered rideheight and the aggressive alignment plus the track day.


Hope you can find the solution.
If the worst comes, depending on whether it's the right or left driveshaft and MT or AT, you can find aftermarket ones.

Kaz

[goldnsx]

How long is the grease good for? Most people regrease it whenever there's a leak in the boot, not ealier. Any other (better, longer living) grease than the one from Honda?