Propshaft overhaul

[s2driveruk]

refit is reverse of removal. You can tap on the new centre bearing taking care to keep it square. You can either improvise to make a drift to push it all the way down the shaft or I found that you can just use the yoke once on the splines of the prop to push that on and work the bearing down the remainder of the shaft. Use a 24mm socket or similar to sit in the collar of the yoke and smack it hard until the yoke is flush with the top of the splines. Refit the washer and 17mm nut (or replace if needed) and note that it needs a locking compund on it...i just used loctite.

Note the orientation of the centre bearing, you will need the crease in the rubber mount to be looking away from the yoke...

[s2driveruk]

and another

[s2driveruk]

quick comparison of the OEM and the Febi BMW centre prop bearing. As GT500 mentioned in another thread, the BMW version has a thinner (width & depth) bracket than the audi (FAG) version. Also the Febi on has a single elongated bolt hole rather than two on the oem

[s2driveruk]

you'll need to spray tons of penetrating oil and smack the yoke with a hammer to get it off the prop. I left mine 24hrs to soak but it still took a bloody good bash to get it to move.

Once apart you'll need to get a something to drive the centre bearing off the shaft, i just used a fat screwdiver and worked round the bearing. There is a metal collar which needs to be removed so i drove that off with a big flathead screwdriver....as u can see it was knackered

[s2driveruk]

Once the prop is split, undo the 17mm retaining bolt holding on the yoke - you'll need a vice or clamp to get enough torque to release it.

You can see the yoke, washer & bolt and the two plugs...

[s2driveruk]

grab a pair of internal circlip pliers and remove the two circlips which will allow the joint to be split leaving the 1/2 of the prop with the u joint yoke and the centre bearing without the ujoint attached as u will need to get at a bolt to remove the yoke. Tap out the plugs which retain the u-joint taking care not to damage the rubber seals (these can be peeled back)

[s2driveruk]

Okay, so once you've sourced a replacement prop or got your own off the car, 1st step, soak the circlips in penetrating oil as they will probably stuck fast.

Mark both halves of the shaft so that you bolt back together as before and retain the balancing.

[s2driveruk]

I'm in the process of overhauling a replacement propshaft to replace the worn one currently on the car so thought i'd cover off the main steps in a how to.

I'm using the BMW centre bearing and some Ford Scorpio inner cv's for the joints at eithr end of the shaft....

Work in progress but here goes.....