Replacing the front drive shaft

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by Siggy

Everyone seems to make note to mark the driveshaft and then the flange so it goes back in the same orientation as it came out. Without having a driveshaft, and picking one up from wherever, I wonder if this is going to cause me a problem. Last thing I want to do is spend money and introduce a vibration that isn't there now.

I have to laugh at myself because we got about a foot of snow a few months back and I took that thing everywhere, powering through the snow like a plow. Never once got stuck or came close to it. All the time, I thought that was because the all wheel drive was doing it's job lol

I do question if it's worth doing at this point. My guess is that the splines wore out and someone pulled it off because they didn't want to pay to fix it. In looking at the history of this car, it had one owner up to about 90,000 miles and then it had 2 or 3 owners from 90,000-120,000. There was evidence left in the car from owners and I googled 2 of the last owners and they lived in lower end housing, so my belief is that they got sticker shock on items and sold it to the next person instead of fixing things.

Having said that, I do fear that it was something deeper and putting that shaft in is going to highlight some other issues that I don't know about, but I guess I'll have to roll the dice and fix those issues if they do arise.

First owner had a bumper to bumper new car warranty, so whatever needed attention they just brought it in.

Second owner had a Certified Used car warranty, so whatever needed attention they just brought it in.

Third Owner is a BMW enthusiast and whatever broke he knew how to fix it.

Fourth Owner is a wannabe. Wanna own a BMW because its a BMW. Don't know how to fix car and don't want to learn. Bring it to the cheapest mechanic he can find and they just do a botch job just to get him going.

Fifth Owner is a look at me. Look at me I own a BMW. Just drive it until the wheels fall off of it.

[wpoll]

Originally Posted by Siggy

Everyone seems to make note to mark the driveshaft and then the flange so it goes back in the same orientation as it came out. Without having a driveshaft, and picking one up from wherever, I wonder if this is going to cause me a problem. Last thing I want to do is spend money and introduce a vibration that isn't there now.

I wouldn't worry about the balance issue unless it crops up - I think the marking thing is just precautionary.

Originally Posted by Siggy

I do question if it's worth doing at this point. My guess is that the splines wore out and someone pulled it off because they didn't want to pay to fix it.

...

Having said that, I do fear that it was something deeper and putting that shaft in is going to highlight some other issues that I don't know about, but I guess I'll have to roll the dice and fix those issues if they do arise.

The LCI cars aren't known for wearing out the splines, so it's a good bet that it was something else - as you say, roll the dice and see!

[andrewwynn]

I would definitely check out the front dif/cv situation before getting a new drive shaft.

[wpoll]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

I would definitely check out the front dif/cv situation before getting a new drive shaft.

That would be a good idea but they must be *mostly* ok as they will be rolling with the rest of the chassis - if there was anything really bad in there, you'd know.

Unless the diff has had a pinion removed or something really dumb...

[andrewwynn]

Check out means: are the CVs or pinion removed

[Siggy]

Looks like everything else is there. Here are a couple of photos from under it. Looks like all the other front end parts are there. I didn't see anything obvious missing, but then again, I didn't know the driveshaft was missing so who am I to know?

[Purplefade]

A quick test would be to get the car securely on jack-stands and using a long mechanics mirror or large “bathroom mirror” have someone start the car, put their foot on the brake, put the car in drive and EVER SO SLOWLY release the brake until the back tires are just turning - doesn’t have to be fast - and then verify if the TC case output is also turning. Once you know that shut it off and rotate the front tires and see if the output shaft on the front diff turns.

Would be the easiest way I could think of to verify if all the guts are there or not. At least if everything turns as it should you you can make an informed decision on whether to buy and try the front shaft or not.

Again, be super careful with it on the jack-stands.


Sent from my iPhone using Xoutpost.com

[andrewwynn]

My understanding is that the TC actually disengages the front shaft when disabled. It could have been a prob with the TC that led to the removal of the shaft though.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Purplefade]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

My understanding is that the TC actually disengages the front shaft when disabled. It could have been a prob with the TC that led to the removal of the shaft though.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

I think you’re right on that, but with no lights, no codes and no visible indication that the car “knows” it’s gone, I thought it may be a simple enough test to see if all the pieces still turn??




2005 X5 4.4i (04/05 build date)
Titanium Silver w/Black Interior

[andrewwynn]

I'm pretty sure the xdrive upon loss of resistance would determine something is very wrong and throw the 4x4 code. I'm very curious about this case though. Keep us posted