How to remove driveshaft.

[atikovi]

I'm replacing the donuts on a Milano 3.0 and I can't seem to get the rear driveshaft forward enough to drop down and pull out.


I can only get it about 1/4 inch forward away from the rear donut but it looks like I would need at least another inch to clear. Any ideas? Just use more brute force?

[75evo]

Undo the shifter linkage bolt (the front one). Drop the transaxle subframe from the chassis. You'll have plenty of clearence.

[AlfaRacer75]

Yep, undo the shift linkage and then take out the 6 bolts holding the DeDion crossmember to the car. Then if you put a floor jack under the rear of the DeDion (near the watts linkage) the front of the transaxle will come down enough to remove the driveshaft.

[sidewaysalfa]

Note Chip said "the front of the transaxle will come down enough". Remember that the clutch hose is still connected between the body and the slave cylinder. There is enough slack in the hose that if you are careful you will have no problems.
And remember to place your rear jack stands under the body and not the DeDion like I usually do. It just makes you mad when you have to move them.
And be glad you aren't doing this on an Alfetta. It is a little more difficult to pull the driveshaft out.

[AR4me]

Remember to mark the bolts, nuts, etc for each location, so that you can put them back the EXACT same way - to maintain the balance of the drive shaft. These things rotate with engine RPM and can vibrate if not balanced.

Jes

[atikovi]

Thanks for all the suggestions, once I raised the rear of the deDion the driveshaft almost did fall out by itself. In all the excitement I didn't mark any of the nuts and bolts so balance may be an issue for the future (although I did reference the front to the rear shaft) but the shafts both have balance weights on them so whats this about balancing through different nuts or washers. All three nuts, bolts and washers on each side looked the same.