Does anyone know how to replace a driveshaft?
 

Ok, im wondering if anyone knows how (or has a link to an instructional page) to replace a driveshaft. my ujoints went bad so i had to order an aftermarket driveshaft from Mazdatrix and id like to replace it myself.
ive got another guy to help me, and between the two of us we know quite a lot about car work, but neither of us has ever replaced a driveshaft.
ANY info you guys have would be wonderful.
thanks
Sam

You'll need 12 pack of beer (your choice)
A couple of basic tools
Floor jack, appropriate jack stands.

Instructions, Crawl under car, look at mounting points for the driveshaft... once your under there you'll see how easy it is. should take you less than an hour.

Warning : I take no action or responsability for damages done to your vehicle, or harm done directly to you. Automobile work may be very dangerous if certain precautions are not done before hand. be careful under there....

-Markus Reschny

Its a little different for each vehicle, but for a RX-7 I believe you just unbolt the flange bolts where the shaft connects to the rear differential, pull it down and away from the tranny and it should come right out.

It's simple:

0) Get the car as high as you can on jack stands so you have plenty of room to work underneath.
1) Remove exhaust from pre-cat up to(and including) y-pipe.
2) Put parking brake on.
3) Remove 1(or 2 if you can reach) of the nut/bolts holding the drive shaft to the differential.
4) Release parking brake
5) Rotate drive shaft to gain access to the other two bolts.
6) Put parking brake on.
7) Remove remaining nuts/bolts.
8) Pull drive shaft from transmission(it just slides right out!).*

*: Gear oil may or may not leak out, creating a huge mess. Be prepared for this and have something to cap the transmission until the new drive shaft can be installed. You can help prevent this by having the rear of the car jacked up slightly higher than the front of the car so the gear oil will slosh to the front of the transmission.

Installation is the reverse of the removal!

Steve

The exhaust is in the way? It was already out on the car I looked at. To get those nuts and bolts out of the exhaust components, you should soak them with WD-40 or some other similar liquid BUT NOT WHILE THE EXHAUST IS HOT This makes it easier to get the rusty, heat exposed bolts out without breaking the bolt in half. Next you'll be posting about how to get broken bolt shanks out of stuff ;)

wonder if we have to worry about rotational balancing when we use aftermarket driveshafts?

Dont forget guys, that the exhaust and heat shields could possibly be in the way.

Jarrett

Yes, the exhaust is definitely in the way. Forgot about the heatshields, but it's really a no brainer to figure that one out. ;)

Steve

Honestly, I took them off and tossed them in the trash..

Thanks guys, i really appreciate it.
(I didnt know the exhaust needed to be removed.. that will be fun. Something tells me ive got some broken exhaust bolts in my near future!)

If you're like some of the rest of us, you'll soon be taking it off so often that the bolts will never have a chance to rust. :D

Just use a dremel to grind the nut down on one side then a hammer/chisle will take it right off.

(Edit for signature)

its not relly that hard at all, i did mine myself in gravel.
it was a bitch but it can be done. have someone helping you by pulling the e-brake you loosen one nut, release brake loosen another so forth. not too hard.

does anyone know a good method for taking off those glorified rubber bands that hold the exhaust to the hangers?