Replacing VS driveshaft centre bearing.

[Gilly91]

Hi,

I was just wondering if anyone knows if it is possible to replace the bearing in the middle of the driveshaft on a VS commodore yourself? And if so, how?

Thanks heaps.

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

Yes it is possible. There are a few threads on here explaining how to do it.

[hako]

This post tells it all: replacing centre bearing

[Gilly91]

Thanks for the help. I have just taken the rear of the driveshaft off the diff, then undid the 6 hex bolts, then separated the back half from where the hex bolts are...then was pleasantly surprised with all the oil out of the bearing or whatever it is falling out on top of me.
I still cant figure out how to get the old bearing out, which is in the bracket infront of the hex bolt bit. I took the bracket apart, and i undid the little clip on the rubber seal but have no idea how to get the old bearing off.
Please help cos i need my car by monday.
And does anyone know how i replace the lubricant that came out when i took the hex bolts off?

Thanks

[Brett_jjj]

Maybe this will help you out.

[Gilly91]

thanks,

but how do i get the back shaft off the front shaft?

the joint with all the hex bolts is still on there and I am not quite sure how to get it off?? There is a snap ring in that joint (showing after i separated it from the back end of the shaft) If i take that off will it all slide off and leave the grooved part of the front shaft showing? Or will everything come apart and make a big mess? That is all i need to get off to give me access to sliding the centre bearing off and replacing it...Well i hope anyway :S haha

Cheers for the picture though

[Brett_jjj]

In the manual it says to remove the centre bearing,you have to remove the CV joint first,it says,mark the front and rear sections of the tail shaft.Remove the allen head bolts securing the rear section to the CV joint.Using a punch,tap the rear tail shaft flange off the CV joint.Remove the snap ring from behind the CV joint.Tap the dust boot retainer away from the CV and remove the gasket.Using suitable adaptor plates to provide contact with the inner section of the CV joint,press the CV joint from the front shaft.Remove the thrust washer and remaining snap ring.
Assembly=Pack the assembly with 80 grams of molybdenum grease,working it into the joint.Align and install the parts as marked on disassembly.Apply sealant to clean grease free mating areas on the CV joint and dust boot retainer.Apply sealant on the rear shaft flange and the threads of the allen head bolts.

[delcowizzid]

yes need a hydraulic press to get them apart really

[Gilly91]

Thanks heaps Brett_jjj that helps heaps

I've got it all off now except the bearing.

Thanks you guys helped heaps.

[Gilly91]

All back together and works fine.

No rattles or vibrations. Thanks for all your help

[jvc06]

hey im just wondering what part of the drive shaft do i take of first having problem changing my centre bearing ...a diagram would help me out thanks

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

Nice searching skills, and digging skills.

In answer to your question, remove the whole tail shaft from the car first, it's a whole lot easier to do out of the car.

Undo the rear unijoint first, then undo the two bolts holding the centre bearing bracket to the car, then pull the tail shaft out of the transmission. Be sure to have a container under the rear of the transmission to catch the fluid that comes out. It won't be much though.

[jvc06]

okay thanks so how do i put the fuild back in ??

[ephect]

U can use a funnel and it goes back in via the auto dipstick in the engine bay. It has a red cap, not the engine oil dipstick

[jvc06]

hey i undo the unijoint bolt and the 1 holding the centre bearing but the other end is part is stuck to the gear box ..is it different setup cause mine is a manual 1 ..

[monkeys437]

Should just slide out mate

[Z2TT]

Hi guys, I'm having a bit of trouble getting the actual bearing out everything else snap rings etc is out.

Anyway for those of you who don't know how to get to it, once you have removed the driveshaft there is about 6 hex bolts you remove. once those are out there is a "Cover" on each side of them that you have to tap out using hammer and flat head keep rotating and tapping it will take a while, you need to take the rearmost cover out and frontmost too I think. Once the rearmost cover is out clean the grease to see better, there is one snap ring to remove, once it's out.

You can tap the joint that is all greasy out, there is a section where you can tap it out from behind.

Then you have to remove another snap ring. Once that is out you have to remove a plate to get to the bearing, doesn't matter if you break this plate or bend it a new one comes with it.

I am stuck on getting the bearing out itself, has anybody removed it without a press? I tried holding the whole shaft upright and having a friend hold the rubber section of bearing while I smash into the top of the shaft so the shaft goes in and bearing comes out but the rubber part sort of acts like an absorber and absorbs all the force. Then tried going on bench and front behind it hitting the bearing with hammer and screwdriver, at the rear it separates but at the front it's not moved out at all.

Any ideas?

[Jxw]

use a hammer and drift/cold chisel... if that doesn't work use a bigger hammer

DO NOT HIT THE SHAFT/SPLINES this will burr the end and #### it, hit the inner part of the bearing only in the direction you want it to go, rotate it and hit in different places opposite each other aswell.... btw search not dig.

Replacing the tailshaft center beaing