Help with driveshaft removal

[AWDGuy]

I'm in the process of dropping my engine and gave up on the driveshaft tonight...

Am I able to disconnect the driveshaft from this flange? Closest to the transmission. Car is a 02 C4S.

Edited February 14, 2015 by AWDGuy

[creekman]

Yes... the drive shaft is connected to the front diff on a spline and will slip out.  Although when I removed mine I didn't plan on re-installing it so 

I took it all the way out.  In your case you might tie up the flange end and leave it connected at the front differential.  

 

[AWDGuy]

There's 3 hex bolts that are a pain to get off. The other 3 came out no problem as I've got a lot of room to move but from the other side, it's tight. Can't get my ratchet with the hex socket on it at all. But your saying once these 6 bolts are removed, I should be able to move the driveshaft back without having to touch the front diff ?

[creekman]

AWDGuy,

 

Can you rotate the driveshaft to get better access to the remaining bolts?  Do you have open end wrenches that you can use instead of the ratchet and socket?

[AWDGuy]

Yes, I do. Problem is preventing the driveshaft from moving. Any tricks for that?

Thanks for the pointers so far :)

[Dharn55]

You only have to take off three of the bolts. There is the rubber disc, referred to as a guibo, three bolts hold the drive shaft to the guibo and three bolt hold the guibo to the flange on the rear of the transmission. I think I took off the three that attached the guibo to the flange on the transmission.

to secure the driveshaft rotate it until one of the bolts is at the bottom, then put the transmission in gear and loosen that bolt, take the transmission out of gear and rotate the shaft until the next bolt is at the bottom, put it in gear again and remove this bolt, then repeat. Very easy to do. Once all three bolts are out use a large screw driver to pry the flange off the guibo, it will stick a bit. By the way use some wire to tie the shaft up so it soes not fall down and over flex the u-joint.

Of course to do this you have already supported the engine and trans and removed the rear support/bracket. You should take a look at the guibo to see what condition it is in. They dry out, can fray and start to make noise. I have had my engine/trans out a few times and it looked pretty good but was starting to make noise. Could not see the problem but when i replaced it the noise was gone. Of course Porsche does not sell the guibo alone, they want you to buy a new shaft and guibo. However just Google Porsche 996 guibo and you will find them on eBay and elsewhere. They will work fine.

[AWDGuy]

Thanks a lot guys! Engine is dropped. Going to bed now - lol

Will raise the car another few inches tomorrow and will hopefully be able to pull it out.