17prospective buyer

So the manual states shaft should protrude 46.85mm, measured from the flange of torque tube. Well, when i was taking it out, i somehow left a tube bolt loosened but not all the way, so i was trying to pull the damn thing out, thinking the shaft was just caught on the tension of the clamp or something, and i think this caused the tube to move slightly forwards while the shaft (splines stuck on clamp bolt, i did not realize it had to be completely out or else it would catch on the splines) stayed put, sliding the shaft rearwards in relation to the torque tube. So i go to put it back in today thinking no big deal, then i measure protrusion and it was 50mm. I spent a few minutes wondering what would cause this then worked it out. So i hit the shaft quite a bit to get it back to as close as i could see without precise measuring tools (just a ruler). You can't get the clamp bolt in without the shaft being in the proper place. Runout is still fine. Is it ok to push the shaft in and out like this as long as the bearings don't shift or fall out?

Rob Edwards

Tapping the TT shaft back and forth to get the clamping bolts in is a regular occurrence around here. I wouldn't worry about it.

17prospective buyer

Sweet!! When the manual said only "slight" correction can be done with tapping i was worried. Much appreciated Rob.

atb

"Tapping" is a pretty elegant way of stating what occurs in our shop.

17prospective buyer

Lol, air hammer?

Rob Edwards

Last torque tube I R&R'ed with Superbearings involved tapping the shaft all the way out. Used a broomstick and then a 1x1 piece of wood so I didn't mung up the splines, but I'd count that as more than a 'slight' correction....

atb

I seem to recall three full grown adult males, hands placed at 2 o'clock, 6 o'clock, and 10 o'clock around a vertical torque tube, and then in unison lifting the TT about two feet off the ground, and repeatedly ramming the end of the drive shaft onto a 2x4 on the ground. I remember feeling like we should have been wearing ceremonial head dresses and chanting some ancient language at the time while going through the process. It was not pretty, and it was not my idea, but I was a guilty participant. I'm sure Dr. Porsche rolled in his grave seeing three Americans desecrate his parts like that.

Black Sea RD

Another way to push the drive shaft into place with more precision is to use a large bearing puller as shown in the attached photo. This method can be used for either end.

Tapping/hitting the drive shaft can indent the bearing races and make them not last as long. It's hard to adjust for the proper force needed to make the drive shaft move, so one usually uses too much force.

Slamming the drive shaft into place by the method described by Adam should only be used to start the removal of the drive shaft for a rebuild. No offense intended Adam.