AWD Prop Shaft Removal (Guide)
 

Managed to take off my prop shaft today, after hearing a nice bang somewhere on the car I decided to take the prop off as a precaution.

Tools needed;
An hour
6mm Allen Key or Hexagon Bit (ideally 3/8 inch drive)
Extension bars for chosen socket drive
Ratchet
Screwdriver
12mm, 13mm, and possibly 17mm socket.

OK so this s how I went about it.

Jack up the drivers side of the car, so that both front and rear wheels are off the ground. Support with axle stands, as you'll be getting underneath it for a good while.

For a little extra wiggle room, I removed the exhaust middle bracket. This turned out to be a good move, as one bolt is a right pain with the exhaust in the middle.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-j...330_101843.jpg

You'll see the propshaft hiding behind the exhaust. On each end are 6 bolts, with a 6mm hexagonal headed bolt. You'll need to undo these bolts, you can do one and then rotate the shaft to gain access to the others.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-J...330_112810.jpg

If they are a bit stuck, you'll need to brace the shaft somehow so that you can undo the bolt against the rotation of the shaft. Simply put, carefully jam screwdriver in the universal joint to stop it rotating, while you loosen the bolts.

In the first picture, you can see a black metal bracket that the exahust hanger is on - this has 6 bolts - 4 that screw directly into the car vertically, and 2 that are angled - these 2 hold the center bearing of the propshaft in place. If you undo the 2 angled ones first, this will allow the propshaft some movement before you drop it out of the car.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s...330_113750.jpg

I then took out the other 4 bolts, manoeuvred the bracket out of the way, and with a little wiggle dropped the shaft out.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-B...330_155831.jpg

Which leaves you with 2 unconnected ends - forward is your transfer box, rearward is the viscous coupling.

Forward;
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-k...330_114148.jpg

Rearward;
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-y...330_114138.jpg

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