07-22-2023, 08:38 AM | #1 |
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Opinions: x35i Front Driveshaft Play
Had the car up in the air to change out the lower control arms. While taking a break, laying down, I shimmed over to the transfer case/drive shaft.
Looking for opinions on the amount of play coming from the output shaft from the TC. I don't think it's excessive but enough to make me o_0. There was 1 very tiny spot of rust on/around the u-joint - maybe visible in the video. https://youtu.be/O7ka5KWVtaI 2015 x35i. ~81k miles. Purchased at ~75k miles. Unknown if it's ever been changed. What do you all think? Change it or send it? I was going to change the TC fluid, so if needed, would do it at the same time. Apologies in advance for quality of video and my leg at the end. |
07-22-2023, 08:47 AM | #3 | |
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Edit: saw your update. Thank you! |
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07-22-2023, 05:05 PM | #6 |
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That movement seems pretty normal to me. Mine was the same. Only way to really tell the U-joints condition for me was to drop the shaft (recently replaced the front shaft). They were very loose compared to the new Febi one. Was glad I replaced it... but who knows, it could have lasted another 100k miles. Either way, was $300 peace of mind that was well worth it.
I have a video for YT on my phone that I haven't posted yet. Been swamped with family stuff (summer) and working on the house. |
07-22-2023, 07:26 PM | #7 | |
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Our car in California barely ever sees water… there’s not. A spec of rust on it. |
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07-23-2023, 05:54 AM | #8 |
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To me that looked more like the normal play in the transfer case/front diff. However, if I’m seeing it incorrectly and that play is simply in the ujoint it definitely needs replaced.
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07-23-2023, 07:53 AM | #9 |
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Thanks! Yes, no movement at all in the u-joint and only in the input itself. Near the end of the video, I did get it to make an audible "clank/clunk" from the up and down movement.
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07-23-2023, 05:31 PM | #10 | |
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Slack in the yoke is from the spline wear on both tcase and the driveshaft, eventually this will create binding and will result in severe stress/wear on the ujoints. After that it will blow up making a hole in the side of your tranny or destroying your iil pan. Both will cost thousands to repair and weeks of downtime, unfortunately. I came up with an upgraded longer spline driveshaft, that comes with serviceable ujoints (skf), balanced, and also has heavy duty yoke/diff flange. These will be available in 1-2 weeks, first 10 units are getting installEd as we speak, will have more available to order very soon!
PS tcase has longer splines than the actual driveshaft yoke, by about 20mm more. My driveshaft uses all the spline area of the transfer case, therefore no additional stress/wobbles on the ujoints, should solve all the front driveshaft issues and be a safe and budget-friendly solution Quote:
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07-23-2023, 05:42 PM | #11 | |
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_ObiJon207.50 |
07-23-2023, 11:17 PM | #12 |
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Thank you, it was a major challenge to find a reputable driveline shop willing to understand the issue, and willing to make a custom one of a kind yoke mold, measure out and make a pipe that would work with a larger than stock cap ujoints, test fit everything, it definitely wasn’t easy, but we made through all of it !
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tfunk88204.00 |
07-24-2023, 12:04 AM | #13 | |
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Regardless... when I installed, I used copper grease on the splines to prevent any corrosion problems in the future. I'll give a heads up when I get that video edited and posted. |
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07-24-2023, 08:48 AM | #14 | |
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_ObiJon207.50 |
07-24-2023, 09:34 AM | #15 |
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dentprotony@gmail.com I found your pictures on a site/thread (google search) while doing my research. Didn't realize there were yours. Good to know!
tfunk88 I followed your thread. You were experiencing the same issues I am now and your resolution to the problem. Planning on doing a TC fluid change and adaptation reset this weekend. Was hoping the shaft wasn't part of the problem. |
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07-24-2023, 04:49 PM | #16 |
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Here's a screenshot of the corrosion on the splines of our front shaft. It wasn't anything to make note of or worry about. The looseness of the U-joints however, seemed excessive. Plus I wasn't very comfortable with all the surface rust. Got all the files on the computer and will edit that up in the near future.
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07-24-2023, 05:13 PM | #17 | |
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07-24-2023, 09:29 PM | #18 | |
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Fortunately the transfer case fluid change and recalibration did! 👍 |
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_ObiJon207.50 crystalworks521.50 |
07-25-2023, 10:18 AM | #19 | |
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07-25-2023, 10:32 AM | #21 | |
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BTW, this is a common enough issue that when I went to buy the 4 TTY bolts for the job. DON'T FORGET NEW BOLTS! The dealer parts guy said I was smart to be proactively changing the front shaft. So failures must be common enough that word has made it around the dealership... |
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tfunk88204.00 |
07-25-2023, 10:36 AM | #22 | |
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