Premature CSB Failure

[dinanm3atl]

I can deal with vibrations of NVH. Not a big deal. A CSB shudder under my seat is no beuno.

[lifeiskaos]

You are the first person I've come across other then myself who has the driveshaft angle like that. FYI, that CSB is installed correctly, in the same orientation as stock.

Are you sure?? I was pretty damn sure I put it in backwards... Well if what you say is true, I'm happy I guess. I never felt good about using the part backwards, but it definitely fits the best the way ours are installed.

[dinanm3atl]

Alright. It is 100% TORN. The center is not attached to the mount. The Driveshaft U-Joints are not binding.

So what is the deal? I am going to get a new CSB. I believe I got Febi brand before(the most expensive on fap99). Maybe that is still cheap? Who makes the OEM?

Is putting it in backwards 100% necessary? I don't want to do this again in the next couple of thousand miles. Any other ideas? Need to order the CSB Stat! Thinking about having a driveline shop balance it as well? Good idea?

[dude8383]

That is really strange!

I installed a used driveshaft and purchased a brand new csb along with a guibo... I installed my csb backwards and have since logged about 13.5k on it without any issues.

When I just installed installed everything 2yrs ago I reused the nuts and bolts for the guibo...they'd come loose every couple of hundred miles until I finally bought brand new ones. After that not a single issue.

[lifeiskaos]

Can someone confirm which way is backwards, and which is forwards? JGood and my CSB are offset to the passangers side, and our driveshafts are still angled. If you reversed ours, it would be offset to the driver's side, causing the angle to be worse.

In any case, it should be oriented like his and mine.

[dinanm3atl]

I am stumped. When first installed there were ZERO vibrations. I mean hell, there were no vibrations at 100mph with the CSB not even attached! Maybe I will try and install the CSB forward? Or try another one? Maybe just bad deal and it was a 10 year old CSB that was sitting on the shelf and weak rubber.

Any other ideas?

[Cyrix2k]

not preloading it should kill it quickly. My bet is that it wasn't installed properly... fwiw, when it failed on my 540, it had the 1st gear shudder as the first obvious symptom. My e30's was totally trashed before I got the car so it vibrated at all speeds.

[dude8383]

not preloading it should kill it quickly. My bet is that it wasn't installed properly... fwiw, when it failed on my 540, it had the 1st gear shudder as the first obvious symptom. My e30's was totally trashed before I got the car so it vibrated at all speeds.

can you guys explain what "pre-loading" is exactly?

[atldohc]

Can someone confirm which way is backwards, and which is forwards? JGood and my CSB are offset to the passangers side, and our driveshafts are still angled. If you reversed ours, it would be offset to the driver's side, causing the angle to be worse.

In any case, it should be oriented like his and mine.

mine looks just like yours as well, and that was the way it was on my stock driveshaft. when i researched it people said to mount it backwards, but when i looked at the parts it didnt make any sense to me to not keep the driveshaft as straight as possible. so imo, our way is forward or "stock offset to the passenger side orientation" :razz:

[Jean]

can you guys explain what "pre-loading" is exactly?

When you install the driveshaft and everything is centered/in-line, you move the csb forward equally on both sides about 1/8" or so.

[lifeiskaos]

mine looks just like yours as well, and that was the way it was on my stock driveshaft. when i researched it people said to mount it backwards, but when i looked at the parts it didnt make any sense to me to not keep the driveshaft as straight as possible. so imo, our way is forward or "stock offset to the passenger side orientation" :razz:

Awesome. edited my first post in this thread. Thanks :D

[dude8383]

When you install the driveshaft and everything is centered/in-line, you move the csb forward equally on both sides about 1/8" or so.

Thanks man, I think I did this without even realizing that I was pre-loading it...I guess that may be one reason why I haven't had any issues.

[dinanm3atl]

not preloading it should kill it quickly. My bet is that it wasn't installed properly... fwiw, when it failed on my 540, it had the 1st gear shudder as the first obvious symptom. My e30's was totally trashed before I got the car so it vibrated at all speeds.

It was pre-loaded.

mine looks just like yours as well, and that was the way it was on my stock driveshaft. when i researched it people said to mount it backwards, but when i looked at the parts it didnt make any sense to me to not keep the driveshaft as straight as possible. so imo, our way is forward or "stock offset to the passenger side orientation" :razz:

Maybe I should try it installed in the regular position...


Sucks.

[atldohc]

perhaps, it seems like a good idea to try something different now as there doesnt seem to be any clear cause of the failure. and also like you mentioned trying a different brand this time might also be a good idea. im pretty sure i just used the cheapest one :o. good luck

[dinanm3atl]

I forget which one I used at this point. Might have been one large purchase from someplace and wasn't really paying attention. Ordered a Febi. The most expensive one i could find outside of the dealer.