[Photo] This diff mount OK or not?

[evilnickwong]

I had a klunking noise from my driveshaft, so I had my mechanic change my center bearing (which was shot to hell) and also the guibo.
After that, the klunking was gone and the drive train was tight and nice, but now I have a vibration in 3rd and 4th gears at around 80kmh. It was previously worse, but after adjusting around down there, this was the best he could do. Before I start looking at the driveshaft again, I read in the Bentley that a worn diff mount can cause vibes too.

So, does this look like it needs to be replaced?

[slo325i]

It seems alright to me...

[evilnickwong]

Hmm I thought so. But that means more fiddling around with the driveshaft. :(

[monty23psk]

Shouldnt it be slolid rubber all they around. Looks like a z3 mount. If so, the bottom has a hole which mean when flex, it can move more.

[jlevie]

In almost all cases, a failure of the rubber mount of the CSB is caused by binding u-joints in the drive shaft. Only by replacing the CSB and the drive shaft will you achieve a full fix.

[evilnickwong]

I did ask him about that, he said the U-joints were still in good shape. Is it not possible that the CSB simply failed from age/use?

I didn't have a vibration before replacing CSB, only after.
The weird thing is my old CSB was one with a very slim bracket, looked like from a M10 318i whereas my new one for my M40 318i is much wider.

[jlevie]

I stand by my earlier comment....

You can replace the CSB and keep the old drive shaft, but the new CSB will have a short life and the odds are that you'll have vibrations from the drive shaft that will get very loud when the new CSB fails.

[evilnickwong]

OK I'll keep that in mind. :) I'll have to see if I can find a place that can provide me a new/refurb shaft.