>I need new u-joints on the TR. Unfortunately the drive shaft has to come out.
>Does anyone know which way is the best way to get it out. From the back or the
>front? It looks like a mess under there. Should the exhaust be removed?
I once asked the same question of this list and got the best response from
Roger Bolick. Here's his method:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Nov 91 09:27:13 CST
From: rgb@hal.com (Roger Bolick)
Re-reading your message you said "BTW, Step #1 in removing the
propeller shaft is..." meaning the exhaust is in okay shape?
If so, don't touch it or you'll end up replacing the whole
thing. Second thing, never believe the manual, they always
give you the most difficult route to encourage you to seek
out the dealer..., think they read it???
If the exhaust is okay, then leave it. (I have dropped the
exhaust manifold connection, dissassembled the drive shaft
in place, 2 parts, and pulled the thing out the front, it
almost fits!) Raise the rear of the car, release the half-
shafts on the rear end and drive shaft bolts. Remove the
other 4 bolts and you have the rear end out... I can do
this before you could have the pipe hacksaw'ed. Yes,
put the rear on a jack, it helps to have help here as it
weighs about 80lbs. The shaft slides right out. And its
much better working with one end raised, ramps are the way
if you have them (for the rear).
Also replace the 2 rubber donuts above the front 2 diff. bolts,
you can only get to them when the rear is out, the rest
you can get to under the car, of course a complete set is
best. Check all the brackets, they break on these cars.
I always replace the pinion seal too. It takes about
150 ft-lbs of torque, so the next one I'm going to break loose
while the rear is in the car (before the half-shaft step).
This seal is where all the oil on the rear comes from, sort of
a self-lubing IRS...
Actually its likely easier to pull the engine/trans rather than
the exhaust pipe...
Roger
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lee M. Daniels Laboratory for Molecular Structure and Bonding Texas A&M
daniels@tamu.edu (409) 845-3726 Fax (409) 845-9351
'74 TR6 '77 MGB
|