Removal and installation the propeller shaft (BMW 3 Series E21)

Removal

Place the vehicle on a lift or inspection pit.

Remove the bracket securing the exhaust pipe to the gearbox.



Remove the exhaust pipe.

Install the 261012 clamp on the flexible coupling and loosen the nuts of the flexible coupling flange mounting bolts.



Tighten the clamp and manually unscrew the bolts securing the flexible coupling flange, then remove the clamp.

Disconnect the rear propeller shaft from the final drive pinion flange.

Disconnect the intermediate support cross member from the body floor.



Lower and remove the driveshaft.

Installation

Place the driveshaft in place and tighten the intermediate support crossmember mounting bolts to the body floor, ensuring a preliminary tension of the intermediate support of approximately 2 mm towards the front of the vehicle.

Attach the rear propeller shaft to the pinion flange (replace the mounting bolt nuts each time the drive shaft is removed).

Install the clamping clamp 261012 on the elastic coupling and tighten the clamp.

Tighten the bolts securing the flexible coupling flange, then tighten the nuts (new) of the bolts (it is prohibited to tighten this threaded connection by bolts).

Remove the clamp.

Install the exhaust pipe, having first replaced the gasket.

Install the muffler inlet pipe mounting bracket to the gearbox.

If noise or vibration of the driveshaft occurs while driving, check the alignment of the driveshaft using template 261000 or a device that you can make yourself.

If the propeller shaft alignment is disturbed, adjust its position by moving the intermediate support taking into account the preliminary tension of 2 mm and placing washers with a total thickness of no more than 3 mm on each bolt securing the intermediate support crossmember to the body floor.