323i rear driveshaft

[cdavie2002]

Hi

I bought a complete rear subframe from what i was told was from a 1982 323i. I had to buy a new side shaft as threads were gone. The new one does not allow the drive flange to be slid on and off!?

I had then thought that the subframe may be from an earlier model, so i checked and there is a pre 08/1978 side shaft (33411115026) but the drive flange has the same part number pre and post 1978.!!!

So, where am i going wrong, why do these parts not fit?

[mr edd]

pre 78 the drive shaft is fitted to the side shaft with 8mm thread allen bolts (like 1602/2002) ..post 78 10mm bolts were used .... sorry i can't help you any more than that ! edd..

[cdavie2002]

Cheers

At least i should be able to identify what year used parts are from.

Still a mystery as to why drive flange part numbers are same, but there are two part no.s for the side shafts!?

[murran]

some of the posts in my thread about wanting some of these to build up my new wishbones off the car might be relavant.

[drjim]

And from the discussion in that thread I may have a set of flanges thatwill fit your shafts.

[cdavie2002]

you have a pm drjim.

[murran]

im supposed to be getting a set off a chap on ebay thats breaking a 320/6. (that tatty gold baur someone posted up about)

[cdavie2002]

Its a 320/6 iv got, dont really want to break drums to bits to check them as i need the car to be movable!

I just dont get why setup i have does not fit!!

Just looked at 320/6 on realoem, drive shaft is same as 323i, but flange (33411123914) is a different part no. So ones i have on 320 may fit, dont get why though.

[murran]

jason said the 323i flange is different (disc brake) to the shaft is the same as a 320...... i think.
do your splines not engage each other like the trouble drjim had?

arnt you fitting full 323i disc set up on yours? could i buy your old flanges and the tube spacers off you?

[cdavie2002]

The splines are pretty stiff to engage, i dont want to force them. Iv got a complete 323i subframe to swap over. I may be a while but when im done il keep all the spares.

[murran]

hmm, dont think they should be an interferance fit. are the start of the splines ok? if ones a little damaged or chipped it might be the cause.

[cdavie2002]

New sideshaft is spotless. I cleaned and greased both shaft and flange, it does slip on so far, then becomes ridiciously tight.

[cdavie2002]

pre 78 the drive shaft is fitted to the side shaft with 8mm thread allen bolts (like 1602/2002) ..post 78 10mm bolts were used .... sorry i can't help you any more than that ! edd..

Now im really confused!

Got hold of some 8mm driveshaft bolts, they fit both the new sideshaft (33411123869) and the originals. So if sideshafts both take 8mm bolts amd not 10mm they should be the same, but they are not, wtf?

How am i supposed to get this to work?

[murran]

mines an '82 and the bolts are m8 8mm headed allen key bolts.....

im betting the splines are slighly damaged somewhere making it a tight fit.
get some valve lapping paste and stick that on the spines. work one inside the other a few times. clean it off and grease it.

[mr edd]

http://www.my2002tii.com/aug2003/july03%20020.jpg
this is a picture of a late e21 differential drilled to suit a early e21/2002 drive shaft (smaller 8mm holes are for early shaft bolts and the 10mm for the later bolts)