Weighted selector rod just done

[Peejay]

Wow just did this mod. The results are awesome. The gear changes feel alot smoother and more chrisp also did the centre bearing and housing. God only knows why I waited that long to do it.

:thumbdo:
On the down side I dont think I put the propshaft back propaly. Theres a vibration at 80km/h and get worse as you go faster. Anyone how do I check the alignment of it without special tools?

 

[Sankekur]

Did you loosen the gearbox mounts to lower the gearbox when you worked on the shift lever?

 

[Peejay]

Yeah.

 

[Sankekur]

What I have read somewhere is that the hight of the back end of the gearbox affects the alignment of the prop, so my first off approach would be to replace the rubber gearbox mounts and they might have flattened a bit after the gearbox was loosened and lowered and then fastened again.

There is another method to get rid of prop vibration, loosen the prop at both ends, then rotate it by 90 degrees fasten and test drive if the vibration is still there loosen again and turn it by 180 degrees in the opposite direction than before, fasten and test again. If the vibration is still present loosen again and turn it by 270 degrees in the same direction you did the first rotation. This will rotate the prop through all orientations to possibly counter vibrations.

 

[moranor@axis]

sank how do you rotate the front of the prop 90* when it has a 3 bolts attaching it you can only rotate it at at 120*

 

[Peejay]

Ok Sank. Must I seperate that propshaft?

 

[Sankekur]

@moranor, i am not entirely sure, but I thought the e36 also has 4 bolt prop couplings, if course if it has only three then you just adapt the procedure for that (like for instance the e46 330i prop has 6 bolt couplings so you would then make smaller than 90 degree rotations)

@heven: No you loosen the prop on the gearbox and diff end and then you rotate it.

 

[Peejay]

Mine has 6 bolts also. I'm thinking that I must send it for balancing.

 

[Sankekur]

Yeah, in the end it might be better to send it to a prop specialist just so they can have a look at it.

 

[Peejay]

Unfortunately the dragon has made other plans for me today. So will drop the propshaft out tomorrow.

 

[Peejay]

Guys I sent the shaft for balancing today. Just installed it and still have the vibration. On their machine the prop runs straight. He says that it was a little off balance. But also that without the propshaft in there is a slight vibration on the car at 2500rpm. I'm going to try and change the gearbox mountings tomorrow. Maybe they gone soft and the box is on too tight

 

[Peejay]

Anybody know how to set the preload on the centre bearing?

 

[moranor@axis]

have you tried google? if its a common problem there should be plenty about it

 

[Peejay]

Yes tried it. Not very informative.

 

[moranor@axis]

this could be useful:
http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/techarticles/E36-Driveshaft_Bearing/E36-Driveshaft_Bearing.htm

 

[Peejay]

this could be useful:
http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/techarticles/E36-Driveshaft_Bearing/E36-Driveshaft_Bearing.htm

Yes seen this already. But it doesnt say how exactly to set the preload. Do you do it off the car or while the propshaft is hand loose to the gearbox and diff?

This is what I mean not very informative

 

[moranor@axis]

well i have not worked on the prop on my car, but from what was described there it seems the center bearing mounting tabs have slots for mounting so you push it towards the gearbox and tighten the nuts... but i could be wrong... someone must have done this before :fishwack:

 

[Peejay]

Yes the centre bearing does have tabs. But must the spindal nut be loose and then once you push the bearing forward then tighten it?

 

[moranor@axis]

dont think you should loosen the spindal nut for this just the two nuts that secure the center bearing... Just had a look in my workshop manual and they say the same thing... just push the bearing forward and hold it inplace while the tighten the nuts

Unless the M3 has a different procedure this should be right...