Replace part or entire C32 drive shaft with new or used?
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 9
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From: Denver, CO
2002 SLK32 & 2002 C32
Replace part or entire C32 drive shaft with new or used?
For reference I've been working on the drive line of my 2002 C32 'project car' - C32 Rear Flex Disc Puzzle Trouble
I think I may need to replace the entire drive shaft... but I'm not certain. Can I just replace the back/rear half without concern of balancing issues? Or should I replace the entire thing as a "set"? And new ones cost a pretty penny. Are there major concerns replacing it with a used one... i.e. from eBay or somewhere? And how would one "balance" the entire drive shaft/line after replacing (or would this even need to be done)??
Any info or thoughts would be appreciated! Thanks in advance!!
I think I may need to replace the entire drive shaft... but I'm not certain. Can I just replace the back/rear half without concern of balancing issues? Or should I replace the entire thing as a "set"? And new ones cost a pretty penny. Are there major concerns replacing it with a used one... i.e. from eBay or somewhere? And how would one "balance" the entire drive shaft/line after replacing (or would this even need to be done)??
Any info or thoughts would be appreciated! Thanks in advance!!
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 992
Likes: 245
From: Tucson, AZ
'20 X5 M50i; '17 Ram 3500; Golf Cart; Bikes; Scooters
I read your other thread, and believe you had a replacement shaft from a different vehicle, which is causing your issue with the disk not fitting.
Driveshafts themselves rarely wear out, only the disks and possibly the end into the tranny. If it were me I'd get the rear shaft from a junk yard or eBay - making sure it is the correct part number - and bolt it up.
Driveshafts themselves rarely wear out, only the disks and possibly the end into the tranny. If it were me I'd get the rear shaft from a junk yard or eBay - making sure it is the correct part number - and bolt it up.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Denver, CO
2002 SLK32 & 2002 C32
I read your other thread, and believe you had a replacement shaft from a different vehicle, which is causing your issue with the disk not fitting.
Driveshafts themselves rarely wear out, only the disks and possibly the end into the tranny. If it were me I'd get the rear shaft from a junk yard or eBay - making sure it is the correct part number - and bolt it up.
Driveshafts themselves rarely wear out, only the disks and possibly the end into the tranny. If it were me I'd get the rear shaft from a junk yard or eBay - making sure it is the correct part number - and bolt it up.
If I bolt up another rear shaft do I need to be concerned with "balancing" issues of the drive shaft? I just have read that some people seem to have a lot of problems with that.
Thanks KBob! I live very close to Parker and over there all the time too
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 992
Likes: 245
From: Tucson, AZ
'20 X5 M50i; '17 Ram 3500; Golf Cart; Bikes; Scooters
Jax - Worse that could happen is that the shaft is not balanced, and you could send it back as junk. If you had new flex disks all around, I would expect good results with a used shaft.
Let me know if you need help, advice or encouragement on the rebuild. I just spent $3K going through my C32 replacing a whole bunch of stuff. Also have an SDS if needed.
Let me know if you need help, advice or encouragement on the rebuild. I just spent $3K going through my C32 replacing a whole bunch of stuff. Also have an SDS if needed.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Denver, CO
2002 SLK32 & 2002 C32
Jax - Worse that could happen is that the shaft is not balanced, and you could send it back as junk. If you had new flex disks all around, I would expect good results with a used shaft.
Let me know if you need help, advice or encouragement on the rebuild. I just spent $3K going through my C32 replacing a whole bunch of stuff. Also have an SDS if needed.
Let me know if you need help, advice or encouragement on the rebuild. I just spent $3K going through my C32 replacing a whole bunch of stuff. Also have an SDS if needed.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Denver, CO
2002 SLK32 & 2002 C32
Thanks for all the responses... I finally got this sorted out. I was able to find an entire good used C32 drive shaft and replaced both the front and the rear flex discs. And all seems good... so far! 
You can check out my channel if you'd like to follow the more than complete story of my C32
You can check out my channel if you'd like to follow the more than complete story of my C32
