replacing prop shaft flexi coupling

[Bally]

Hi need some help , i need to know how easy it is to replace flexi coupling, I have a new one from BMW , is it a case of getting underneath and removing the bolts sliding the prop shaft back and replacing or will exhaust and heat shield need to come off, just need to know what needs doing as I ill be working outside and don't want to struggle in the wet and cold. thanks

[JoeDiese]

Heat shield will need to come down, and the center support bearing will need to come down, and then the propshaft should have enough room to bend/move back far enough to get the flex disc out.

You'll probably also have to undo the exhaust-trans mount there to give the exhaust room to move around too.

Should take about an hour or so on your back on the driveway...

[kev76]

hi there.
i wouldnt say a hour or so on the drive its more like a full day first time around. i did one on a 528i and it took all day.same idea.you may as well change your centre bearing if your keeping the car its a tw=t of a job on your back on cold concrete.my freind has done 3 on his e30s and he cant do one in a hour or so . its going take that long jack it up to a decent height and set the axle stands out. kev

[Bally]

is it best to jack up the front or back of the car?
I know it will take me a while to get it ready to start working on it, experienced person may be able to do it in an hour, i will allow a lot longer I was hoping not to remove exhaust as i know the bolts will nbe siezed , will take my time just need to see if the heat shield will come off with out the exhaust having to be dropped, any other tips welcome.

Thanks

[kev76]

best use 4 axle stands if possible and get the whole car off the ground if not just use 2 and get one side up front and back the exhaust has to come off to drop the prop .i took the exhaust off in one piece at the manifold. i would mark the prop with something like a touch up pen or tipex as they are balanced.you will see the weights on the prop do this as the prop splits into two halves at the bearing . kev

[Bally]

Thanks , will jack up and have a look and wd40 everything. will wait till the weekend before starting as this looks like it could be a PITA.

thanks

[JoeDiese]

I've done several on e30s over the years, always about an hour, bit more with jacking it up, but nowhere near a whole day.

If it takes you an hour to get your car off the ground I think it's safe to say you need to invest in a trolley jack to speed things up a tad!!

[daimlerman]

I would be wary of using 4 axle stands,unless one end of the car is supported on it's suspension there is a sporting chance that the thing will rock and fall down.

My chosen method of getting an entire car into the air is to use a pair of drive on ramps at one end,and a pair of axle stands at the other.

[town325i]

My chosen method of getting an entire car into the air is to use a pair of drive on ramps at one end,and a pair of axle stands at the other.

This is the way i would go about it aswell much better and it works out quiker too.

[Brianmoooore]

Second (or third) the above! It is very dangerous to work on a car on four axle stands, unless care has been taken to ensure that each stand is carrying an appreciable part of the load.
Otherwise it's easy for a lightly loaded stand to be pulled or pushed out of place, leaving the car able to rock, so that the opposite corner one can come out as well. At this point the car can roll in either direction, and fall off of the remaining stands.
In the absence of a proper four post or two post ramp, or a forklift, drive on ramps are the way to go. Loop of old carpet around the bottom rung to make the tyres grip, and prevent the ramp slipping away.

[FlappySocks]

Sorry to dig up an old thread, but I am confused. Does the prop/exhaust have to come off or not? The second post suggests just dropping the support bearing is enough. Dont mind spending an hour or so on my back, but if it's all day, a garage can do it.

[blue30]

Exhaust & heatshields have to come off; if the zaust has been on there for 10 years it could be a bit of a ball ache. If everything comes off easily you could do it in a few hours. I think to do it in one hour you'd need to have done it before and have ramps, all the tools to hand, everything comes off easy etc.