Drive shaft vibration

[Beemur]

I drive an 87' 325is, manual, with about 195,000miles

I have begun to notice a vibration that I can feel through my seat and hear. This occurs between about 25 and 30 miles per hour, independant of gear selection, and only under load from the engine (accelerating or going up hill) I can barely pick it out when cruising and I don't recall noticing it when running under compression.

These symptoms make me think it could be caused by the guibo or the center support bearing.

Is there anything else that it is likely to be? and can I tell by looking at or testing the guibo or CSB if either of them are the culprit?

Thanks in advance, I always apreciate the input.

 

[epj3]

I drive an 87' 325is, manual, with about 195,000miles

I have begun to notice a vibration that I can feel through my seat and hear. This occurs between about 25 and 30 miles per hour, independant of gear selection, and only under load from the engine (accelerating or going up hill) I can barely pick it out when cruising and I don't recall noticing it when running under compression.

These symptoms make me think it could be caused by the guibo or the center support bearing.

Is there anything else that it is likely to be? and can I tell by looking at or testing the guibo or CSB if either of them are the culprit?

Thanks in advance, I always apreciate the input.

Yea you could get under the car and see if the guibo is worn out (or if there is play in the driveshaft...)

You should replace both of them at once, it would be incredibly stupid not to.
http://www.bmwe34.net/e34main/Maintenance/Transmission/CenterBearing.htm (for an e34 but procedure is the same)

 

[mjbst111]

check your universal joints on the drive shaft as well. I replaced my guibo and center support bearing and they were not the source of the problem. They both got destroyed again...

 

[jrt67ss350]

I had an identical vibration to what you describe. I thought it was my worn guibo and possibly my center bearing. When I went to replace the center bearing, I discovered that it was fine, but the center ujoint was disintegrated.

That ended up being a very expensive repair - rebuilt driveshafts are $$$.

 

[Beemur]

I had an identical vibration to what you describe. I thought it was my worn guibo and possibly my center bearing. When I went to replace the center bearing, I discovered that it was fine, but the center ujoint was disintegrated.

That ended up being a very expensive repair - rebuilt driveshafts are $$$.

Could I replace my Ujoints myself, what is involved in the repair. How will I know if they are the problem, is it just indicated by having alot of play in the joints or is there more to it.

 

[jrt67ss350]

The u-joints in BMWs are technically not replaceable. The u-joints do not use standard retaining clips - they are actually staked into the driveshaft yokes. In order to replace the u-joints yourself, you would have to have the equipment to drill out the old u-joints which are made of hardened steel, then remachine the cast yokes to accept new joints and retaining clips. You would then have to have someone balance the driveshaft. I certainly don't have that kind of equipment, so I had to buy a remanufactured driveshaft. The remanned driveshafts have standard replaceable joints.

If there is ANY play in the joints, they are potentially faulty. The BMW specs for the allowable amount of play in the joints is incredibly small - a fraction of a millimeter. In my case, one of the u-joint caps had broken, and the trunion had worn through it into the cast yoke. That joint had about a half an inch of play.

 

[mjbst111]

mine were the opposite of "play".

When i moved each joint side to side one of them was a little sticky. Apparently a tiny bit of catching destroys all!

 

[SwadePM]

Also, Check the engine and transmition mounts, if they are shot, replacing a guibo or CSB will be worthless