Replacing the front drive shaft

[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.

[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!