Driveshaft dumb question

[Beej '86 325es]

I'm removing the engine and transmission for my S50 swap. I REEEEALLY don't want to take out the whole driveshaft.

Here's how the car sits now:


Here's how far I've gotten it pulled back:



Can I just loosen the center bearing mount and slide the forward half back? I got the driveshaft to slide way back at first, but not all the way. Then I got it to move back forward a little. Now it's being a bitch to friggin' move. Anyone got a trick to get some leverage on it other than grabbing it and pulling?

[cheades]

Just undo the center support bushing and you can pull the driveshaft off the tranny. Then just leave the driveshaft laying on the ground still connected to the diff.

[AdamF 88iS]

Unbolt the center bearing.

[Beej '86 325es]

Thanks, I'll give that a shot. I didn't want to at first, because I thought I read in the Bentley just to loosen it. Oh well.

BTW, this is on an eta with the harmonic balancer thing over the flex disc. Anyone know of any adverse affects of leaving it off?

[Beej '86 325es]

Won't friggin' disconnect. Unbolted the center bearing and it stops just as the two pieces would separate.

I'm probably missing something really stupid. Wouldn't surprise me...I spent a half hour the other night trying to figure out why a new battery wouldn't fix the beeping smoke detector...ends up it was another smoke detector that was beeping. It's been a long week.

[AdamF 88iS]

Shove them all the way together and bend the shaft down at the center bearing. This should allow you to get it off the end of the tranny. You don't have to seperate it to get the shaft out.

[E30325es]

You have to losen the clamping sleeve to sperate the two peices of driveshaft

[Tangent]

BTW, this is on an eta with the harmonic balancer thing over the flex disc. Anyone know of any adverse affects of leaving it off?

I left mine off when I replaced my driveshaft and there's been no difference whatsoever.