Remove Drive Shaft - 325ix

[e30forlife]

In order to remove the drive shaft do I have to to drop the rear subframe?

Really hard to get to the bolts to the diff.

[jlevie]

It is not necessary to drop the rear subframe to get the drive shaft off. Long box end wrenches will get the nuts off.

[e30forlife]

Flex dic bolts are off.

I loosed up the big nut also.

The back nuts near the diff are off also.

Why wont this damn thing come down? Im able to wiggle it and move it forward but not enough.

What do I do next?

[e30forlife]

Anybody?

[nando]

You need to collapse the shaft. loosen the slip yoke at the rear and push it ttowards the diff.

[e30forlife]

Ive done all of this...

Ive loosen the big nut.. Taken all of the nuts off the rear diff. But can get the actual bolts to come out. My guess because of weight from the shaft.

But my goal is to push the shaft towards the diff and the front of the shaft should come out?

[jlevie]

Once you collapse the drive shaft (after loosening the collar nut) either end of the drive shaft can be dropped. The splines may be stuck and liberal use of PBlaster or Kroil and a day or to for that to penetrate can help. If you are still stuck, dismount the CSB and pull down at the center u-joint. That should extend the drive shaft some. Spray more penetrating oil on the splines and push up. Repeat until you can collapse the drive shaft.

If the drive shaft is truly seized , disconnect the half shafts and drop the diff & drive shaft. Then send the drive shaft off to be rebuilt.

[e30forlife]

This is an IX model. I dont think I have an CSB.

[nando]

Ix = no csb

[Zasz]

^Wat. GL, iXs are weird.

[e30forlife]

Yeah tell me about it. This is the first car ive ever worked on too...

Was about to get the driveshaft to come off last night. A crow bar is the magicstick!

[Chruby99]

You should be able to collapse it enough to clear the sub frame and drop out. My biggest obsticle was sliding it out between the floor board and exhaust(i did not remove the exhaust, would have made it way easier)

[cabriodster87]

A crow bar is the magicstick!

There you go, now you've got it.

[BrassDrummer]

One of the most useful tools in my toolbox. As crude as it is and as it sounds, that shit makes me money.