Norton Way in Letchworth and Crown in Bushey are both highly regarded on here.

 

It would be driveable as I have the original alloys in the garage but the driveshaft (or is it called halfshaft? from the hub to the diff flange) is loose. it turns about a quarter of the way around before the flange moves. Any ideas? does the shaft have to be fitted a certain way? is it held by something as it seems to just sit in there

 

The diff flange is connected to the half shaft by six bolts - no possibility of play there. On the basis you can clearly see the diff flange is not moving it sounds like you need to check the connection between the half shaft and the hub (which I've not fiddled with, I'm afraid).

 

[QUOTE=Paper Lawyer,Sep 12 2007, 12:47 PM] The diff flange is connected to the half shaft by six bolts - no possibility of play there.

 

Whoops; sorry to see this - hope you get it sorted OK.

Any insight into how you got into the spin?

It's surprising how many prangs are shown on here that haven't involved a third party - which is good, obviously, because the event of spinning into someone else wouldn't be healthy for your driving license!

 

Ouch

 

Oh dear. Feel for you.

I'd be interested to hear how it happened too, and hope that I don't sound unsympathetic by asking.

 

Soooo luck you didn't take any damage to the rear quarter panel.
Assuming nothing is twisted
That is DIYable I'd say
Don't skimp on parts though

 

Sounds like the balls have fallen out of your Rzeppa joint, but I think you said the hub' ends the good end?

Sorry, I mean the tripode joint if it is the inner end that's got the play. You've usually got three wheels with needle rollers in them & they can fall out.

 

Trouble is, a swipe like that, I'd say far kit get a new shaft as well.