snapped center driveshaft support

[EtaSport]

Had a squeaking noise, that turned into a thumping noise on hard acceleration. Took the heat shield off the car today and saw that the center support was split near the base, and allowing a lot of driveshaft play. I figure there is a lot of twisting torque at that spot, but its not like I make that much power, especially compared to you turbo and m5x swapped guys. Any explanation as to why it would just go. It was about 2 years old.

New one is on the way, but wont be here for a couple days.

[PeaveyBassist]

When you put it in, did you preload it? Also, if the driveshaft isnt balanced it might eventually rip it after a long time of constant vibration.

Will

[lordofthewaters]

if the driveshaft isnt balanced it might eventually rip it after a long time of constant vibration.

Will

:stupid:


Plus did you ever get that half shaft free?

[EtaSport]

I put it in a little under 2 years ago. I preloaded it correctly, but I may have damaged the bearing on install, I think what i did was put it in backwards, and had to pull it off again. (i just now remembered that, so thats probably it) It didnt fix my bad vibration problems, and I thought it was trash, or that the universal joints were bad. The driveshaft is original, but the joints dont have much play in them.

Halfshaft is still in, will try working on it this weekend. Got my axle nut back on in the meantime though.

[KangamangusDriver]

I figure there is a lot of twisting torque at that spot, but its not like I make that much power, especially compared to you turbo and m5x swapped guys. Any explanation as to why it would just go. It was about 2 years old.
New one is on the way, but wont be here for a couple days.

I havent broken anything yet, however I did loosen/lose the bolts on the diff and where the driveshaft meets the tranny. Made a horrendous sound under acceleration.

installed new bolts with some loctite and its been good since.

[Scott314]

What's needed to replace the center bearing assembly? Are there any other dust covers or snap rings or anything that you need to buy? And I assume you need an arbor press to press the bearing on and off, correct?

[KangamangusDriver]

What's needed to replace the center bearing assembly? Are there any other dust covers or snap rings or anything that you need to buy? And I assume you need an arbor press to press the bearing on and off, correct?

i removed mine with an air chisel.

[etxxz]

*Please describe your thumping noise. i believe mine is cracked as well but it doesnt vibrate when i accelerate or cruise at a constant speed on a flat road. It makes a claan clanclanclanclan when i hit a road defect (bump) or accel on a right handed turn

i also think it can be my rear wheel bearings or simply something loose 'cause its a metal to metal kinda sound.

[EtaSport]

Mine made a distinct squeaking on regular acceleration. Sounds like something is loose. When you get hard on the gas though it just went thud, thud, thud, thud, until you let off. You could definitely feel it inside the tranny tunnel too.

[Bimmerfanatik]

Mine made a distinct squeaking on regular acceleration. Sounds like something is loose. When you get hard on the gas though it just went thud, thud, thud, thud, until you let off. You could definitely feel it inside the tranny tunnel too.

Check your subframe bushings.

My subframe bushings are completely gone - when I get on it the subframe twists and pushes forward, causing the driveshaft to buckle and whack the underbody.

I've got a new driveshaft, CSB, flex disc, subframe bushings, etc, waiting to go on. For now I'm going easy and hoping it holds until October :)

[02stu]

I just installed a new center bearing but I didn't preload it, how is that done?

[EtaSport]

You can see that the carrier has notched holes in it. You just need to slide it forward towards the front of the car and bolt it down.

I know my subframe bushings are pretty much gone, as well as my TA bushings. I need to find some time when I can have the car down for at least a week to be able to replace everything because that stuff hasnt been touched in over 400k miles.