So my center bearing is likely well and truly dead as I don't believe its ever been changed and its an 89 model zed.. Am getting some madddd vibration at any speed greater than 65km/h Spoke to a Tail-shaft specialist in my area and the guy said that he can custom make a new one piece for $350 which I am inclined to go with because so far that's proven way cheaper against my quotes to find someone to remove the current two piece, replace the bearing and align it all. am driving a 2+2 NA Auto, Have heard some fairly mixed reviews of one piece tail shafts... To my knowledge they provide better performance and lesser comfort? (having said that anything is probably better than my one right now) What are the pro's and con's of going to a one piece or should I pay the extra money to get my one fixed? Cheers
The centre bearing is less than $150. An hour tops to remove and replace, especially on a hoist. Of course if any of your uni's are stuffed than you're screwed, but often these are fine. Oh and search the forum to make sure you get the correct centre bearing, there are two types, NA & TT are different. There's a thread where I and others have posted up clear details on which one to get for NA & TT.
Re: One Piece Tail Shaft The centre bearing can be replaced easily enough. The issue with the two piece shaft requiring replacement is usually the universal joints wear & can't be replaced. Because they are staked in position & not held in position with removable & replaceable circlips, as on aftermarket tail shafts. The person who has quoted the $350.00 to fabricate you a custom tail shaft had better have an excellent reputation for this type of work. Ask what RPM he balances the shaft at. For the price, Z1 Platinum tail shafts are hard to beat, even with the shipping costs added. Other members have imported tail shafts from Coz with good results. There shouldn't be any need to align the tail shaft.
If replacing the centre bearing it is important to put it back together in the same alignment, as the two piece is balanced assembled.
I have had a one-piece Tailshaft fitted to my Manual TT for more than ten years. There have NEVER been any adverse issues relating to this(nor has it required any periodic maintenance or servicing).:zlove::br:
Yea its been really hard to find a quote for someone to do this, I first went to Z-Shop and they said they had to much work on right now to do it... And every other mechanic has said that they would need to pull the tail-shaft out (which they are all estimating to take ages to just do that..) send it off to a specialist to get the bearing replaced and aligned, sent back to be re installed, leading to quotes of around $500... Unfortunately i don't have a hoist or really anywhere to work on my car after i moved... So not a job I could do my self
Yea I'm really not sure what the mechanic was referring to when he said they needed to be aligned/balanced
go here. he'll make the one piece and refit for you too. support local business, he's been making one piece shafts for vic members for at least a decade. knows what he's doing.
I called Knox Driveshafts and they told me that they didnt fit them?! Might have to give them another call tomorrow...
With the money you'll save doing it yourself, buy yourself a set of 4 quality chassis stands (pyramid type), download and print out the relevant section of the factory manual, buy the centre bearing and do it yourself for probably around $250.
Here's the cheapest way to do it. Get the pyramid type as Shane says, if not, the pin type is ok. 2 x axle stands = $40 http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/on...r-1200kg.aspx?pid=324010&menuFrom=70501#Combo Trolley Jack = $60 http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/on...c-1400kg.aspx?pid=215072&menuFrom=70501#Combo Centre bearing $91.19 Here http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Drivesah...9-1998-V6-3-0L-inc-Turbo-Models-/121019207353 or here http://www.quicksales.com.au/ad/dri...12-1989-1998-v6-3-0l-inc-turbo-models/8369590 How to: http://www.pexcom.com.au/z32cms/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.420
He used to offer a swap over service for an extra $100. you bring the car over, to make the one piece he takes out the driveshaft, reuses the unis off your old one and will put it back in for you. Maybe Jeff's too busy to do it these days. Guys, Camberwell is inner Melbourne, if he doesn't have access to a garage which is common for the area, it means the car is out on the street and not everyone is gangster enough to work on their car jacked up on the side of the road. If buying anything rubber I'd be hesitant with any cheapo ebay stuff as it's made to unknown standards in some china factory. Last year my V35 Skyline needed only a pair of bushes, it was impossible to find on short notice and I sourced cheap non OEM ones. It felt like total shit and the rubber was much softer which made the car feel like a bucket of bolts because of just two non genuine bushes. Another example, bought wheel bearings for the MX5 off ebay, took the hubs off and got a shop to press the bearings in for me. Back together and guess what, the thing went noisy again in less than a 1000kms. Couldn't be ****ed with it, bought some 2nd hand hubs off the MX5 forums and that finally fixed it. These days I wouldn't trust bolts bought off ebay.
Cheers mate, yea will look into it some more, Hahaha most of my work is done on the street or in a car park
In this case you'll be laying completely under the car for a reasonable period of time. No way I'd be doing that on the street or in a car park lol And no way I'd be going under it with those pin type axle stands. Sorry Vader but personally I think they should be banned!
Don't dick around changing the bearing. If it's vibrating that bad the unis are rooted, you need a new driveshaft, and i expect a gearbox mount which I reckon is a root cause of the centre bearing failure. Go a one piece. Work good.
$80 http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/online-store/products/Car-Stands-Ratchet-Pair-3000kg.aspx?pid=324012&menuFrom=70501#Cross Each to his own. I always leave the jack under the car, with at least two stands. My new jack ($350):
Mine was changed years ago for a one piece. Tell you the truth - I've never noticed anything untoward from it. Smooth as ever to me - better because one less point of failure. Mine was done by Joe Imbesi (Zed Guru). He was at Dontek at the time, but he's at another place now. He's still over eastern Melbourne way, and I still "make the journey" so he can service my car.
Why? Ratchet ones make me more nervous about knocking the locking lever. At least on the Pin ones - you can't pull the pin when loaded, so pretty safe. Has mine for years under all manner of cars - never let me down.
I've never seen a ratchet one, that once loaded, could be released by the lever. The reason I don't like the single post pin ones is they can tip. Has happened.
