350i Propshaft ...

[Jack Valiant]

Well it is time to do those prop shaft u/j's .. I understand that you can take the shaft out in situ but it is like a cube puzzle to get the thing out through the chassis members Got the exhaust off and can still not see how to do it .. there has to be a trick...

Anyone done one out there? and can share some snippets of wisdom as to how to get it out!

Cheers

Chris

[rev-erend]

Yep.

Undo the centre box cotton reel bolts, then undo the ex system from the manifolds (x2).

The exhaust system should now drop down - you will need to support it and possible use some rags to project the tail pipes / body work.

You can now undo the prop shaft.

Don't forget to leave the car in neutral before you start.

[ed_crouch]

Once the bolts are undone at each ens, i believe there is a telescopic section at the front, which should allow you to shorten it to clear the flanges, and then I guess it should feed out through the bottom of the chassis.

Ed.

[Jack Valiant]

Thanks guys ... is there a particular trick to how it comes through the chassis cage as I cannot seem to figure it out? Sense of humour failure yesterday!

[rev-erend]

Yes - easy.

Just take the engine out. They built the car around the prop shaft.

Seriously - I'm sure you will figure it out when it's all undone.

[Number 7]

This won't be much help, but it does come out, only 1 way, and even when I marked the chassis rails myself, it took me ages to figure it out again. Persevere. It will go.

7.

[blueone]

I took the diff out and then its easy well putting it back was. seriously I "think" it was via the left side as you lay under the car facing front but you do need the exhaust fully removed and I had no driveshafts but outting it back with no diff was infinatly easier.

[adam quantrill]

Jack/Chris - before you get it out get hold of some chalk or masking tape of something.

I took mine off - 10 minutes to figure out how - then it took over an hour to get it back on because I had forgotten the hole I got it out through. This is not amusing, holding up a propshaft for an hour or more is quite knackering! So please mark the chassis as you get it out.

I think it comes out towards the rear, probably (and this is from memory) on the LHS side of the chassis box section, probably through the last aperture between the pipes.

Edited by adam quantrill on Tuesday 10th July 12:36

[Jack Valiant]

Thanks guys, all advice noted especially about marking the route out and in! I will take some dig photos so once I have it sussed I can pass it on to others! Will have another go tomorrow as I had had enough as you say after 2 hours of holding it up! As the Actress said to Bishop!

[leorest]

I believe it is wise to mark the orientation of both ends of the prop to ensure that they stay in the same orientation with their mating flanges. I had/have a vibration which can be made better/worse depending on this.

When reassembling the prop ensure that the UJ yokes are aligned in the same plain as this can allegedly contribute to vibrations.
HTH.