Removal and installation the propeller shaft (BMW 3 Series E36)

Various cardan shafts are installed: most often, a cardan shaft with a front joint disk is installed, see the figure. Cardan shafts are also installed that have constant-speed joints instead of joint disks. Take into account the differences when removing.

Removal

Raise the car.

Remove the exhaust system as a complete unit.

Remove the catalytic converter heat shield.



If present, unscrew fasteners "1" and -2-. Unscrew bracket "3" from the bottom of the car, paying attention to its installation position for subsequent installation. Wide lug "4" faces the front side of the car.



Separating the propeller shaft from the gearbox:



Design with a hinged disc: Unscrew the hinged disc from the gearbox. In doing so, unscrew only the nuts, not the bolts. Design with a front crosspiece: Unscrew the crosspiece from the flange of the gearbox.



Using the BMW 261040 tool, loosen the threaded ring "arrow" a few turns. If you do not have this tool, loosen the threaded ring with a pipe wrench.



Remove the cardan shaft from the rear axle gearbox. Block the shaft with a crowbar.



Remove the middle support "A" (Figure W 3022).

Bend the cardan shaft downwards and pull it out of the centering pin in the gearbox. If necessary, push the shaft completely into the movable joint.

Caution: Do not disconnect the cardan shaft at the sliding element.

Caution: Do not drop the cardan shaft. The rubber seal of the constant velocity joint may be damaged in particular.

Installation

If there are vibrations and noises, the cardan shaft should be balanced in a workshop. In addition, the bending angle of the cardan shaft can be checked.

Note: The cardan shaft is balanced as a set and can only be replaced as an assembly. Replace worn cardan shafts.

Before installation, check the centering disk of the cardan shaft, if necessary, lubricate the disk with Molykore Longtherm 2. Replace the damaged disk.

With the help of an assistant, push the cardan shaft into the centering pin of the gearbox.



Tighten the middle support with a bolt tightening torque of 22 Nm. At the same time, shift the middle support with an interference fit of E = 4-6 mm in the direction of movement.



Screw the cardan shaft to the rear axle gearbox. To avoid overtightening the cardan shaft, if possible, only the nuts or bolts on the flange side should be turned. Install new self-locking nuts with a tightening torque of 70 Nm.

Screw the cardan disc to the cardan shaft and to the gearbox. Tightening torques: M8 bolts - 45 Nm; M10 - 70 nm; M12 - 80 Nm. To avoid overtightening the hinge disk, tighten only the nuts or bolts from the flange side, if possible. Block the cardan shaft from turning with a crowbar.

Tighten the threaded ring to a torque of 17 Nm (Figure W 3022). If there is no special tool, tighten using a pipe wrench.

Screw on the catalytic converter heat shield.

Tighten the cross beam with a tightening torque of 20 Nm. The wide projection of the beam should face forward.

Install the exhaust system.

Lower the car.