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The dealership told me four years ago that I needed a new rear flex disc. I just took these pics today . Does it look worn to you?
Other than the surface coating peeling, this looks fine to me. I will probably replace both of my discs just for good measure since they are now 11 years old ...
A visual inspection of any rubber component can be deceiving. Try to pry around it or move it somehow so you can see any cracks that are otherwise well hidden. I agree with you though, 11 years is long enough, just did mine about a month ago, easy DIY. Get a new carrier bearing too.
Q: Do you know where I can find a DIY? I can't find one.
Q: I see two items being sold: (1) carrier bearing, and (2) driveshaft support which looks like it includes a bracket welded to a bearing. Do our cars take both? Does the bearing go inside the support bracket? Based on the photos it looks like the two are the same size so one would not fit inside the other.
Yes, the bearing goes inside the carrier...you could also buy the carrier with the bearing already installed, hard to come by though.....
DIY is pretty simple...once the drive shaft is out, separate the two halves (just pull apart) noting the alignment marks. Use a punch on the inner bearing race to remove the bearing +carrier assembly, install the new one pretty much the same way. Once you have the drive shaft out you'll pretty much figure it out dude...just make sure those alignment marks are spot on, otherwise you'll be going back in...(ask me how I know)
Also, expect the bolts at the exhaust flange mid point under the car to break...I soaked them with pb blaster but 2 out of 3 broke while removing.
Thanks for the info -- this is helpful (and incidentally the first real instructions I've seen on this). Two more questions:
Q: I assume one half of the shaft slides within the other half. My guess is that the rear shaft fits within the front shaft, so I would remove the rear flex disc first, compressing the shaft to get the disc out. Then in order to remove the front shaft I would have to loosen or remove the carrier bolts. Is this correct? What is your suggested sequence for removing bolts?
Rear section of exhaust pipe must be removed. 3 bolt flange with a metal gasket/seal ring in between.
The rear half of the drive shaft has the carrier bearing on it, it's also the "male" of the two halves. I simply unbolted everything at both ends and the middle and let it all drop. Note that even after unbolting the flex discs they won't simply fall off, they have to be pried off.
The rear one is done. Wasn't too bad. I did have to remove the exhaust. Now for the front one. Pretty simple DIY actually. Just though when you dont have a lift. Bearing huh? I may have to take a look into that.
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