Front Driveshaft install help please!

[NNW]

I'm reassembling my ix after replacing the oil pan and am having trouble getting the drive shaft that goes through the oilman back into the diff.

Does anyone have any experience with this and can offer any tips? The drivers side went back in easily.

Also any tips for getting the control arm bushings into place? I heated them up in hot water, then slipped them on with hot soapy water. Got one on fine and the second on but not in place when I had to go attend to a crying baby. Its now cooled, stuck and needs to move almost an inch further onto the control arm to be in the right place for mounting to the chassis. The control arm is on the subframe so hard to get back into any bucket or similar to reheat.

Cheers.
Nick.

[EyExR]

I'm reassembling my ix after replacing the oil pan and am having trouble getting the drive shaft that goes through the oilman back into the diff.

Does anyone have any experience with this and can offer any tips? The drivers side went back in easily.

Also any tips for getting the control arm bushings into place? I heated them up in hot water, then slipped them on with hot soapy water. Got one on fine and the second on but not in place when I had to go attend to a crying baby. Its now cooled, stuck and needs to move almost an inch further onto the control arm to be in the right place for mounting to the chassis. The control arm is on the subframe so hard to get back into any bucket or similar to reheat.

Cheers.
Nick.

Just clean up the splines, and get it in there. Rotate it around until you feel it slide in. Just keep at it - it'll go. I had the same exact issue...

For stuck CAB, spray some soapy water on there, put on some heavy-duty gloves and just get it on with brute force, foul language, sweat and tired muscle. ...it'll go. It's rubber! Twist and push, twist and push......

[NNW]

Thanks for the advice. I have actually been following your DIY thread on e30tech in order to replace the oilpan. Very helpful!
I managed to get the halfshaft and driveshaft in.
The CAB though is another story. I took the control arm back off the car to try and put some muscle on it. Problem is I'm only 130lbs so there isn't much force going into the application! ;-)
I'll try again tonight.

[EyExR]

Thanks for the advice. I have actually been following your DIY thread on e30tech in order to replace the oilpan. Very helpful!
I managed to get the halfshaft and driveshaft in.
The CAB though is another story. I took the control arm back off the car to try and put some muscle on it. Problem is I'm only 130lbs so there isn't much force going into the application! ;-)
I'll try again tonight.

Taking the control arm off will definitely help but just working on it for a while will cause it to heat up do to all the flexing. It will go on...

Also, if you have the control arm off you can dip the entire thing in a big bucket of hot water to soften up the rubber. Just make sure that when you get it on, it's orientated to line up with the underside of the car.