I think I destroyed my center suport bearing?

[Avus_325is]

Tonight me and a few of my buddies were out cruising around and doing some 3rd gear pulls. Well after one I started to hear a nasty clungking noise. I ended up limping home driving about 5 miles an hour the whole way for the 4 mile stretch back to my friend's apartment. The clunking was echoing and i beleive the driveshaft was hiting the frame. I'm guessing a center support but it was late and i didn't want to start messing with it.

Is this what it is or could it be something worse?

[Avus_325is]

It's an '87 325is for those who don't know. I guess i'll tear into it today and try to figure out what's going on.

[MattE30]

Let me know, because I got a problem similar to that.

[AdamF 88iS]

Sounds like it could be that. Can't know for sure until you get under there and check!

[elemental]

The rubber around the center bearing is what fails most the time, have you replaced the Gibo? sp..? I would check there.. and the centerbearing has to be pressed off and . on is optional..

[MattM20]

it could be the guibo. ive heard of people breaking the bolts in the guibo under hard acceleration, not so much due to sheer power, but becuase it may have been worn or the bolts coulve been a little loose to begin with

[E30//MAN]

Would you say that if the center support bearing would go out, and has been out for a week or so ... would you need to look into replacing the drive shaft as well, or would a new bearing keep her steady?

[318daily]

Depends. You really need to pull the driveshaft and inspect the U-Joints. If they move smoothly and freely then they are fine. If the movement is notchy, then you may need a new driveshaft.

[Widebody325]

This happened to me the other day. 2 of the 3 bolts connecting the driveshaft to the transmission broke. I think the previous owner was messing around at somepoint and did not tighten em up good.

[E30//MAN]

what do you mean notchy .... it rattles when I step on it hard. But only through second, and only between 2200-2500, and then again at about 4k-4300. The harder I would step on it, the louder it got. Acceleration through second is a joke.

[Garageaholic]

. Acceleration through second is a joke.

what do you mean, it's a joke? it pulls hard? or the vibration is unbearable?

[HST]

Normally eather the guibo or the trans mounts go bad first. This causes the center bearing to go bad. The center bearing should last almost forever as long as the drive shaft stays straight and in balance.

[Snowmann]

the center support bearing should not last forever, the bearing is a bearing, which is a wearable part, the rubber suffers from weather checking like everything else... if you sheared bolts on your guibo you wouldnt be moving anywhere... the center support bearing doesnt need to be pressed on and can be installed with a socket and a bfh


but dont be a cheap bastard and only replace the bearing, replace the guibo too

[HST]

Forever is a bad choice of words, it should last a long time... As Snowman said replace the guibo and i'd suggest checking out you transmission mounts as well, maybe you motor mounts. If your drive shaft is not straight, like if you had bad trans mounts, the extra stress will kill your center bearing.

[dirty30]

had this happen, the rubber fell out of the center support bearing and the u-joint was hitting the heat sheild for the exhaust system making a rattling noise that happened intermittently....