Premature CSB Failure

[jahnaboi]

You are suppose to install the CSB as stock. You want the shorter side towards the passengers side of the car.

If you put it backwards, you have installed it incorrectly.

[328ijunkie]

Yeah, ive never installed it backwards whether using a E30 or E36 driveshaft with the swap. Never even heard to do that... That will cause some pretty severe (for the DS) angle and burn up the CSB pretty damn quick i bet as its trying to return to the center of the trans tunnel and it cant...

[dinanm3atl]

So normal install? Why does it say all over to install backwards?

There is an Arrow for the front of the car... install it 'forward'?

M52
ZF320
E36 Late Driveshaft
E30 Diff

[FredK]

Popular knowledge says to install "backwards" because the splined joint is part of the rear of the E36 driveshafts, but is part of the front half of the E30 driveshafts.

So, to get the CSB oriented in the tunnel the same way it is in the E30, you need to have it face the opposite direction.

In the end, you just want to ensure the driveshaft is aligned as it was in the E30.

[dinanm3atl]

So with what I have do I want it 'forwards' or 'backwards'? I have the driveshaft out of the car but have to take it somewhere to get the CSB installed. Guess backwards wasn't good. Maybe try forward?

[Jean]

If the driveshaft isn't straight, it won't matter how you install it until it fails again.

[328ijunkie]

I mean basically get it sorta on the shaft then get the DS up there and check the angle between the CSB and the output/input shafts...

[matt]

You need to install the CSB so that the driveshaft is a straight line. Don't worry about forwards or backwards. There is only "correct" or "broken".

[dinanm3atl]

I understand that. Tough when I have to take the driveshaft somewhere to get it serviced. I can hold it up with the broken piece and look at it.

[dinanm3atl]

It appears offset to the passenger side looking forward is straight. This is how the current one was installed. Looking over the old one it seems to me it is cheaper than the Febi/Bilstein. So I am going to put it on and see how it goes.

If it continues the DS could be out of balance I guess. U-Joints feel good. Maybe a whole rebuild would be better in that case if it does it again. Can't believe there is no 'answer' with proper orientation since this swap(engine, trans, DS and diff) is so common.

[dude8383]

Can't believe there is no 'answer' with proper orientation since this swap(engine, trans, DS and diff) is so common.

The problem is that people have installed it both ways, including myself.

I installed mine backwards and I haven't had a single issue because like Fred said above this is popular knowledge.

[dinanm3atl]

Well it is offset. It can't be 'straight' both ways. Which way is 'backwards'? hah

I try this again. See what happens. I truly right now am leaning on I got old stock of a lower quality CSB. It tore so quick and it feels 50% of the quality/stiffness of the CSB from Febi/Bilstein.

Next is DS balance.

[dinanm3atl]

*Update*

Got the shaft back out after installing CSB the opposite way. Horrible vibrations. Fully inspected the shaft. U-Joint has almost a notch in it where it stops. It isn't bound up but the DS can only flex one way freely and not the other.

Pretty sure that killed it. So 'backwards' is right for my setup as the vibrations were worse with it installed forward. DS is dead.

Damn e36 parts!

[lifeiskaos]

Picture of your driveshaft angle?

[dinanm3atl]

It's back on the ground. I can try and remember to get one when I put it back together.