Hi

I have read various posts on how the remove the prop shaft and replace the centre bearing. I have a 2002 2.5L Auto AWD 250K Klms

I am contemplating the bearing replacement. Can some one please confirm that when the bearing slides down the prop shaft(aft) does it easily clear the balance weight on the end of the prop shaft shaft or does the balance weight need to be removed and relaced?




I tried greasing, special adatives to transmission, transfer case and diff, including transfer case oil change, but to no avail. The noise is still there between 30kph and 70kph at about 3 harmonics 40, 60 and 70kph. It quiets down after about 30 kilometers. The sound only started in the last few months of our winter, but we live in the tropics and a cool day is 20 deg C.

I am concerned that no one on the forum seems to confirm this replacement necessarily fixes the problem?

 

I just noted the marks on the shaft. A previous owner must have had the shaft off, because I havent. I bought the car with 120,000Klms now 250,000Klms

 

I haven't changed the bearing myself but I have had the prop shaft off a couple of times. Easy job. If you get all 4 wheels off the ground and leave it in neutral you can loosen the 3 or 4 bolts that are easy to get to then rotate the shaft by hand to access the rest of the bolts. You need a 6mm allen to remove them. If you can't get all 4 wheels off the ground a 6mm allen socket with a universal joint, a socket extension, then another universal joint to attach to your socket wrench you can wiggle it enough to get to the top bolts. I did 6 bolts front and carefully lowered that, loosen 2 bolts for the bearing so they are almost off, then remove the 6 bolts from the back. Mine did not come off at that point so motorcarman here on the forum, a professional Jag mechanic, gave the advice to use the shaft as a slide hammer, push it a little bit toward the rear then quickly slide it back. There is enough play in the universal joint to make this work. I did this and it popped right off. I had some rope tied loosely under so when it popped off it didn't smash down on my concrete floor. At that point remove the 2 loosened bolts at the center bearing and everything slides out easily.

 

Thanks dh53 this will help a great deal. I am hoping someone can clarify whehter the bearing will slide off past the balance weight Otherwise it is not worth me starting.

 

Remove the front 6 allen head bolts from the propshaft at the transmission. Remove the rear 6 allen head bolts at the rear differential. Remove the 2 bolts on the center bearing. At that point you can slide the prop shaft forward, back, side-to-side, etc. You will not have any issue with the balance weight at all.

 

OK, just realizing your question is not related to the balance weight hung off the side of the rear differential. You are worried about the prop shaft balance weight that is riveted on to the shaft being larger than the prop shaft bearing, I think.

From your picture the balance weight is no bigger that the flanged end of the prop shaft so I cannot imagine it could be a problem. Some calipers should tell you what you want in a few seconds. I haven't done this myself. YMMV.

Below is what I thought you mean by prop shaft balance weight. My apologies.

 

dh53 Ok now I understand. Ok I will order the parts. Thanks for your replies. The car has 280,000kms so she is not doing bed.

 

Ok, I replaced the centre bearing usung the instructions on this site. The noise is gone. The only thing I had problems with was fitting the new seal to the aft end of the bearing. I could not get it to grip securely. I ended up spot welding it to the shaft at four points to hold it.

Thanks for the instructions. I could nt have done it without them. T bearing did clear the shaft balance weights.