Drive shaft removal
 

Can the drive shaft be removed without removing the rear end ?

Re: Drive shaft removal
 

Yes.

Loosen the e-brake cable, remove exhaust system, support drive train with jack under transmission, unbolt C-Beam fore and aft.
Pull C-Beam forward alongside the transmission as far as you can to get clearance at the back.
Persuasion with a rubber mallet is likely required.
Drop down c-Beam at back and slide out from rear of car.
Mark position of drive shaft on transmission output yoke and also on rear end yoke.
Balance must be maintained.
Remove u-joint bolts.
Remove drive shaft.
Buy a set of C-Beam Plates from Bill Budreau (The ZF Doc) for the re-install.
He supplies alignment wedges to properly align transmission and rear end.
Alignment of transmission to differential is critical.

TomC
'Crabs

Re: Drive shaft removal
 

Wow, awesome instruction and advice. Vince, it does not get better than that. Good luck with the project.

Re: Drive shaft removal
 

Cliff,

You are the man and I bet you have helped many to easily find solutions with your solutions thread.

Thanks for taking the time to do this!!! It can take a long time to find exactly what you are looking for and you have made it so much easier; especially for newbies.

Craig

Re: Drive shaft removal
 

Agreed :handshak: