Larry Herman

I need to know if the half-shafts can be removed directly from a 996 GT3 or is there some suspension disassembly required? TIA.

Hank Cohn

Larry,

I hope this is helpfull. It comes out of the workshop manual for the 996. In general when there are differences for the GT3 they are noted. There were no additional notes in this case.

Hank


42 Rear wheel suspension, drive shafts 911 Carrera (996)
Removing and installing right drive shaft (manual transmission)
Note
The available space for drive shaft removal and
installation varies depending on the transmission
type and the side of the vehicle. The removal
and installation description is therefore
subdivided into:
Right drive shaft - manual transmission
left drive shaft - manual transmission
Removing right drive shaft
1. Raise vehicle and remove wheel.
2. Undo axle nut.
3. Slide a suitable protector (e.g. plastic tube,
old coolant hose - 0 approx. 30 mm) over the
d rive shaft.
Undo the drive shaft on the transmission
flange.
42210008
4. Remove stabilizer mount on the stabilizer.
5. Remove right spring strut, see
Servo No. 427119.
6. Lift the wheel carrier until the drive shaft can
be pulled out to the rear. Observe following
note!
Note
Lift the wheel carrier using a universal lift placed
at a suitable point. Place a hard rubber pad
between the universal lift and wheel suspension
so that it cannot slip. Ensure proper seating and
carefully lift the wheel suspension.
(Illustration shows the left side) 42520001
42 - 32 42 21 19 Removing and installing drive shaft (manual transmission)
9964231 Printed in Germany - 39, 2000
911 Carrera (996) Rear wheel suspension, drive shafts 42
7. Press drive shaft out of the wheel hub
toothing.
Installing right drive shaft
Install in reverse order. Grease the toothing
of the drive shaft with OptimolyHT.
Note
Since the drive shaft can be moved only using
great force, loosen the shaft inwards with taps
on a copper mandrel. Lift up the shaft near the
inner joint (possible damage to the closure cap
of the drive shaft may occur).
For unfavourable tolerances, the drive shaft
must be pressed out of the wheel-hub toothing
using a universal wheel-hub extractor.
Always check the boots for damage if continuing
to use the drive shaft!
Replace the boots if necessary.
Carry out a visual inspection of all parts.
Replace self-locking nuts.
Use correct tightening torques.
Note
When installing the spring strut, make sure that
the spring-strut fastening screw (arrow) is
tightened only in vehicle position.
Vehicle position means: Vehicle standing on the
wheels, or the wheel suspension is being raised
with a universal lift.
42210004
180_97
8. Remove the drive shaft. To do this, take the
drive shaft on the transmission out in
rearward and downward direction.
42 21 19 Removing and installing drive shaft (manual transmission)
Printed in Germany - 39, 2000 9964231
42 - 33

911 Carrera (996) Rear wheel suspension, drive shafts 42
Removing and installing left drive shaft (manual transmission)
Removing left drive shaft
1. Raise vehicle and remove wheel. Note
2. Undo fastening nut at the outside of the drive
shaft.
Lift the wheel carrier using a universal lift placed
at a suitable point.
Place a hard rubber pad between the universal
lift and wheel suspension so that it cannot slip.
Ensure proper seating and carefully lift the
wheel suspension.
3. Slide a suitable protector (e.g. plastic tube,
old coolant hose - 0 approx. 30 mm) over the
drive shaft.
Undothe drive shaft on the transmission
flange.
4. Remove the rear underbody cover (5).
42520001
691_96
5. Compress the wheel carrier (50...60 mm).
42 21 19 Removing and installing drive shaft (manual transmission)
Printed in Germany - 39, 2000 9964231
42 - 35
42 Rear wheel suspension, drive shafts 911 Carrera (996)
6. Press drive shaft out of the wheel-hub toothing.
Note
Since the drive shaft can be moved only using
great force, loosen the shaft inwards with taps
on a copper mandrel. Lift up the shaft near the
inner joint (possible damage to the closure cap
of the drive shaft may occur).
For unfavourable tolerances, the drive shaft
must be pressed out of the wheel-hub toothing
using a universal wheel-hub extractor
(Fig. 42210004).
Always check the boots for damage if continuing
to use the drive shaft!
Replace the boots if necessary.
(Figure shows the right-hand side) 42210004
7. Remove drive shaft. To do this, pullout the
drive shaft over the transverse strut to the
front and downward (arrows).
42210009
Installing left drive shaft
Install in reverse order.
Grease the toothing of the drive shaft with
Optimoly HT.
Carry out a visual inspection of all parts.
Replace self-locking nuts.
Use correct tightening torques.
Note
Only optimised axle nuts for drive-shaftfastening
are available from the Parts Service.
Pictures and text can be found under the
installation instructions for the right drive shaft.
42 - 36 42 21 19 Removing and installing drive shaft (manual transmission)
9964231 Printed in Germany - 39, 2000

Camber

The description from the manual is right on. I repacked my axles this spring, and I found that removing both shafts took about two hours - one hour of which was just trying to get the suspension lifted to just the right height to be able to wiggle the shafts out of the car. Reinstalling the shafts took less time (the opposite of what I expected) - maybe an hour to install.

Make sure you use the thread compound on the hub when reinstalling. It's a metal paste that keeps the hub and hub nut from fusing. As I recall, the torque on the hub nut is 300 to 320 lb/ft, so you'll need a very long, good torque wrench to reinstall. Borrowing a friend's if you don't have one makes sense here.

Jim

Larry Herman

Thanks guys. What is that thread paste?

GT3 Chuck

looks like there are two tubes...one grease and one sealer....see attached

part #s 000 043 110 00 and 000 043 205 36

In the text they say "Grease the toothing of the drive shaft with
Optimoly HT". Is that either one of these?