ETA driveshaft/diff clunking in lower gears..

[Track89]

Just picked up my first ETA last week for a decent price. '84 with 54xxx on the clock and a mint interior for $1650.
Only issue is when im shifting thru the lower gears and when i lift of the gas i get a loud clunking noise.
The shop its at rite now said its possibly the drive shaft or diff. Prices for new parts are out of control.

So are all the drive shafts and diffs swappable between all E30's..and if not which ones will i be able to use??

[2.5-12]

sounds like a classic Center Support on the driveshaft.

cheap and easy with basic tools and a friendly shop with a bearing press


If your Diff. is bad, any E30 diff with the 4 bolt flange will work.

you need a 6-cyl driveshaft for your kind of trans if your u-joint is bad.

[E30Gus]

if the miles are correct I doubt it would be the diff unless there isn't/hasn't been fluid in it. Has the car been sitting for a while outside? I think most people on here would agree to check the drive shaft guibo, center support bearing, and diff fluid (if the shop hasn't already done that) before you spend $$ on the more expensive parts. Sounds like a bad guibo to me. Cheap and easily replaceable like a 2 dolla whore.

[E30Gus]

OK we need to re-name this post to "Cheap and Easy"

[2.5-12]

should be like $45 for a new CCB and about $25 to get it pressed.

[E30Gus]

should be like $45 for a new CCB and about $25 to get it pressed.

NOOOO
$25 for a new one, no pressing involved.
you get the whole thing. just pull drive shaft off, pull apart with alignment marks for balance reference then put the new one on. Bolt it back up. Buy a bently manual!

[Track89]

sounds like a classic Center Support on the driveshaft.

cheap and easy with basic tools and a friendly shop with a bearing press


If your Diff. is bad, any E30 diff with the 4 bolt flange will work.

you need a 6-cyl driveshaft for your kind of trans if your u-joint is bad.

That's what the seller told me it was, CCB and i'm good to go. Idk if this place is trying to sell me or they don't know what their doing.

So all 6-cyl diffs and shafts are compatible??

[Track89]

So i found a DS for $150 but the guys telling me that if its from '84-june'86 it will fit but anything after that production date wont be compatible?

Is this true...

[2.5-12]

af long as its for your motor/trans, yes.

drive shafts were 84-mid 86, late 86-87, 88-92 i believe (for 6 cyl cars, AT/MT are different)

[Track89]

af long as its for your motor/trans, yes.

drive shafts were 84-mid 86, late 86-87, 88-92 i believe (for 6 cyl cars, AT/MT are different)

So it looks like i might be able to use the late model drive shaft but need to use early model Center support bearing and a early model flex.

Can anyone confirm on that??

[Track89]

Anyone?

[Stanley Rockefeller]

there's generally only 2 types of DS for the 6 cyl, manual e30's. This I know for a fact. There's the early and the late versions. You obviously need the CS for the early type e30

[Track89]

there's generally only 2 types of DS for the 6 cyl, manual e30's. This I know for a fact. There's the early and the late versions. You obviously need the CS for the early type e30

Nice so the '89 DS i picked up should work with a early CS and flex??