replacing guibo, ditch damper?

[vr2jetta]

I am going to replace my guibo in the next couple days and I have a couple questions.

1. Is there a way to change the guibo without completley removing the driveshaft? Maybe unbolt it and just lower it down out of the way? I havent been under the car long enough to take a good lok to see if its possible.

2. I have heard of guys removing the vibration damper to ease in the install of the new bolts and lose extra (unneccesary) rotating weight. My buddy just did it but he has not driven his car yet and this is his first E30 too.

What do you guys think?

[ldsbeaker]

I JUST did this.
In order to remove the ENTIRE vibration damper, you would have to take the big nut off of the end of the transmission. I ended up cutting the rubber around the inside edge of the vibration damper, and then just pulling the outside ring off.
No, I couldn't replace the guibo without pulling the driveshaft. I couldn't compress my driveshaft, so I had to pull my diff too. It was a good chance for me to upgrade to a 3.25 LSD, so it worked out ok.
If you can compress your driveshaft enough, you might be able to do it without completely pulling it. I'm not totally sure.
I would pull it anyways, good chance for you to replace the CSB. (no press needed for me)

[e30slut]

You shouldnn't have to remove the diff to remove the drave shaft.


Just unbolt the csb and unbolt the flex disc and your done.

now, about the rotating ugly thing around the front of the driveshaft, I think I'm gonna go at it with a sawzall

[ldsbeaker]

Yes, in a perfect world, that would have worked. However, it just wasn't happening. Not in my garage.
... and just to make perfectly clear, when there is a vibration damper, the bolts that attach to the guibo are PRESSED in. Not so easy to just remove the bolts, and pull it off. I mean, there is over 1.5 inches of bolt there... ah screw it. It wouldn't happen, no matter what.