E30 Output Shafts - are they different?

[estoguy]

Perhaps the R3V gurus can help. Tried this on BF... looking for a definitive answer:

Hey guys,

Question - I know that driveshafts are different in E30s, but what about the half shafts coming off the differential? Are they all the same?

One of my local boneyards has an 88 325i automatic sitting around (it does have ABS), and I'm tempted to get the half-shafts out of it - they want $75 each (remember, in Canada, not the USA, and they pull - the yard doesn't allow jacking). I'm thinking these could make some nice spares.

I compared with a serial from a guy on BF (89 325i) and got:

01 Rmfd. output shaft 2 33211226900 ENDED
01 Rmfd-output shaft ABS 2 33211226901 $610.38

This is the part numbers when I put my serial in.

01 Rmfd. output shaft 2 33211226333 $602.60
01 Rmfd-output shaft ABS 2 33211225893 $610.38

So, what is the difference??? The only other difference in the part list is the bellows replacement kits. Different numbers there, otherwise rest of the hardware matches.

And what is the difference between ABS and non ABS output shafts?

Is there any reason why these wouldn't work in my 86 325 (eta)?

[TobyB]

The only diff I've found is the ABS tone rings- the early cars don't have 'em,
the intermediate cars have room for them,
and the later cars have them.

Means that some of the early cars might not be able to use the late halfshafts
as there's not room inside the trailing arms for the extra diameter
of those tone rings...

...might be more, but that's what I've found...

t

[estoguy]

Thanks for the input!

So I know what to look for - where are these tone rings on the shaft? I'm guessing somewhere around the outer CV?

[TobyB]

Yeah, outside CV- they look like gear teeth- you won't easily see them when they're on
a car, because they hide inside the pocket in the trailing arm
but when you pull the shaft, they're pretty obvious.

And they should only be on cars with ABS- my 2-87 eta had the rear trailing
arms set up for ABS, but was not built with it, and so had shafts without the
tone rings...

hth

t

[Smelser]

The only diff I've found is the ABS tone rings- the early cars don't have 'em,
the intermediate cars have room for them,
and the later cars have them.

Means that some of the early cars might not be able to use the late halfshafts
as there's not room inside the trailing arms for the extra diameter
of those tone rings...

...might be more, but that's what I've found...

t

could you not shatter the ring? and remove them?

[jeffnhiscars]

could you not shatter the ring? and remove them?

Yes

[TobyB]

Agreed.
Would the resulting assembly fit?
Seems like it would.
Dunno, tho, haven't tried it...

t

[estoguy]

Well I did some further research on realoem... the trailing arms in my car are the same ones as in the later cars, so the bigger rear bearings, etc. So I would surmise that the shafts would fit fine. May not even have to remove the rings.

The older Etas (pre 9/85) had smaller bearings and different trailing arms.