Center support bearing replacement

[jmairs]

I've got several recurring problems with my '86 325es that I've been trying to work out. After getting a quote of over $1000 from a local garage, I'm trying to decide what repairs I can tackle myself.

I was told that my car needed a new center support bearing. The garage wants $96 for the part, plus $215 for labor. I found the part online for $45 -- how easy would it be for me to install it myself (for the low, low price of free)?

[jlevie]

If you have a way to get the car up in the air (jack stands or a lift) you can do this yourself. The exhaust has to come down to get the drive shaft off and the CSB has to be pressed on/off the drive shaft, which may mean taking those parts to a shop.

Be aware of the fact that in almost all cases a failure of the CSB is caused by binding u-joints in the drive shaft. If you replace just the CSB the new part will have a short life unless the drive shaft is also replaced.

[jmairs]

Sounds easy enough to me. I'll start shopping around for a new driveshaft + CSB. ~$400 sound right for that?

[frag]

jmairs: what were the symptoms of the bad CSB? i've got a funny grinding noise comiong from the transmission tunnel that used to only happen when i let off the gas in low rpms. now it's a really bad noise that vibrates a lot at almost any speed, regardless if i'm on the gas or not. i was thinking it might be the CSB, too