Rebuilding your own drive shaft - anyone try?

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TBburg
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Rebuilding your own drive shaft - anyone try?

Post by TBburg »

Recently had a u-joint failure, joint behind the transmission. The rear U-joint is also stiff and on it's way out. Surprisingly the center joint and center support bearing are in good shape.

I already knew the joints are non-serviceable without specialized equipment.
New and rebuild shafts are available in the $300-$800 range.
New replacement U-joints are available, but without the equipment to center and re-peen in the cups, installation is,.. problematic.
Mild research turns up replacement U-joints from Rockford Driveline for later model BMWs, using inside snap-ring retainers for $30-$35. Presumably a change in the flange design allows the use of the replacement joints in the newer cars.

My question is has anyone done any research into replacing the joints in an E-24 shaft, and if so what problems you ran into?
Is there anything so hard or a modification so precise that makes it uneconomical?
Where ever you go,.. there you are.

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ron
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Re: Rebuilding your own drive shaft - anyone try?

Post by ron »

Need your location in your profile or the post will be deleted!
They are ALWAYS rustier than you thought!!!!!!
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86_6series
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Re: Rebuilding your own drive shaft - anyone try?

Post by 86_6series »

If your in the states, and it's an automatic--I have an oem shaft complete from an 86 with only 5000 miles on it.

Pm me if your interested.

Bob V
Last edited by 86_6series on Mon Nov 20, 2017 2:17 am, edited 1 time in total.
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matthewdesigns
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Re: Rebuilding your own drive shaft - anyone try?

Post by matthewdesigns »

If this ^^^ doesn't work out, contact a local driveline service shop for a quote. We have driveshafts strengthened and rebalanced for our customers at a local shop for about $250, and this includes replacement of an entire u-joint on one end.
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Re: Rebuilding your own drive shaft - anyone try?

Post by piek »

As far as I understand the process, one would cut the non-replaceable U joints off and weld on new U joints. Not sure that's something I'd want to take on myself.
Just talked to driveline service in Portland. They quoted me $433.13 to do it and free shipping both ways. People on here are speaking highly of them. Seems like the way to go. A new one runs a grand and I bet if you try to do it yourself you wind up with a non-repairable scrap.
piek
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Re: Rebuilding your own drive shaft - anyone try?

Post by piek »

86_6series wrote: Sun Nov 19, 2017 4:51 pm If your in the states, and it's an automatic--I have an oem shaft complete from an 86 with only 5000 miles on it.

Pm me if your interested.

Bob V
You still have the driveshaft? I'm about to call driveshaft service in Portland and have them rebuild mine. I'd PM you but, new users can't apparently.
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86_6series
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Re: Rebuilding your own drive shaft - anyone try?

Post by 86_6series »

piek,

PM'd you yesterday.

Shoot me @[email protected] and we'll work out a good deal
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