Can't slide front driveshaft back enough - I've been desplined!

[rcm3]

I've suffered from the infamous driveshaft spline failure. I've got all the bolts off, but can't seem to slide the driveshaft back enough to allow the flex disc to fall out.

There's a little flange (#4 below) that fits between the shaft and into the center of the flex disc that seems to be causing the trouble. Other people don't seem to get caught up here and are able to slide their shaft back more...



I'd appreciate any ideas or advice.

[swissfrank]

Originally Posted by rcm3

I've suffered from the infamous driveshaft spline failure. I've got all the bolts off, but can't seem to slide the driveshaft back enough to allow the flex disc to fall out.

There's a little flange (#4 below) that fits between the shaft and into the center of the flex disc that seems to be causing the trouble. Other people don't seem to get caught up here and are able to slide their shaft back more...



I'd appreciate any ideas or advice.

you separate the #4 from the driveshaft, this gives you room to get the flex disc out and then slide the driveshaft out

[David.X5]

Penetrating oil on the splines helped me. Of course, I cleaned it out good before installing new shaft with proper grease.

[David.X5]

If your splines are really buggered up, they may have rotated a little making it hard to slide the shaft deeper into the transfer case like it should.

Some people have had luck with loosening the transfer case mounting bolts (but not removing) to get another 1/2 -3/4 inch.

[rcm3]

Originally Posted by David.X5

If your splines are really buggered up, they may have rotated a little making it hard to slide the shaft deeper into the transfer case like it should.

Some people have had luck with loosening the transfer case mounting bolts (but not removing) to get another 1/2 -3/4 inch.

Anyway you can point me to which bolts might be the most effective to loosen? Everything seems to be connected to everything else.

[David.X5]

I pulled the whole transfer case as it also had a leaking seal. That gets a little involved, but was probably 4 hours work my first time.

There are threads here where people describe what I mentioned. The TC is held to the rear of the transmission by 6-8 etorx bolts. You can reach them all with a little creativity. I am not sure if people doing this remove the cross member that supports the rear of the Transmission and XC.

[stackz]

the way I did it was to unbolt the flex disc from the driveshaft and from the front differential.

then I pushed the driveshaft into the transfer case as much as I could and then pulled the flex disc out WITH that flange all as one wobbly piece. put it back in that way as well.

[X5only]

Originally Posted by swissfrank

you separate the #4 from the driveshaft, this gives you room to get the flex disc out and then slide the driveshaft out

That's how I removed it too.