Front driveshaft guibo mod (fatter flex disc edition)

[AndrewBird]

It's purely to increase the amount of spline on the driveshaft. In stock configuration, a large section of the shaft is not even used. A thicker guibo pushes the shaft into the TC farther engaging more spline for a stronger connection.

[tk32]

Could those experienced iX brains explain why this is a worthwhile idea, from a technical standpoint? I read a bit about giving the front driveshaft splines more 'bite'.
http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh...n-a-1990-325IX

Found a bmw oem front flex disc for $130 which is a great (non-technical) reason to tackle this job. Instead, $130 gets me TWO German made rear discs and most hardware for this adaptation.

I am tearing out my entire suspension and driveline as it is due to 200,000+ mile old rubber everywhere (tax returns = car parts) :up: so while I'm in there, how do I spend my hard earned $? Thanks

tk

[unloadedak]

the lower bellhousing really doesn't support the engine/trans either so there's not really any risk in grinding that down.

also less risk than grinding down the bolt heads for the drive shaft :?

[nando]

the lower bellhousing really doesn't support the engine/trans either so there's not really any risk in grinding that down.

[unloadedak]

Did this over the weekend. Figured this pic should be here for those looking and uncomfortable with grinding the heads of bolts.

Comparison between an oily stock bell housing cover and my modified one.

[audiquattrot]

awesome thread!

[mtnbimmer]

Great job!

Mods, please sticky this!

[ColinGreene]

Thank you for helping me find another 160 dollars i need to spend on my Ix.
I got the grease ordered but it was back ordered, 10 dollars for the grease 12 for shipping.
Pretty lame.

[nando]

I think you can undo the cover plate and then you could do it outside the car, but it's been like 7 years since I had it apart last.

[jP4]

It's going to take a good deal of grinding on the cover plate is all. It's certainly doable, but you're gonna find yourself at a weird angle working over your head for a while. Just an fyi -- I found that the area above the torx bolt flange also gets in the way (area shown below.) So not only do you have to grind the flange back ~1/8", you're also gonna be grinding the area above it. My bolt heads were getting stuck in that highlighted area as well.

[nando]

just grind the cover plate. all it does is keep dirt out, a little knick to clear the bolts won't hurt anything.

[dirty30]

Just got done attempting this mod and ended up pulling it all back out, using the X5 centering pin and a stock guibo shimmed with washers. Even though shaving the bolts down to about 1/8th would probaly hold I just didn't feel comfortable doing it just for an extra MM of spline contact. The X5 centering pin is a little thicker and combined with the washers it provided plenty of spline contact. Just my 2 cents.

[nando]

yeah, you need to flip it around.

at least it's not too difficult.

[jP4]

In my case the arrow is pointing away from the diff flange, but toward a flange on the driveshaft. Does that count? =/ Looks like I'll be flipping it around.

[nando]

yes the flex disk can be installed backwards, the arrows need to point towards a flange. otherwise, the flex disk will fail in short order.