E36 Gearbox Removal

[Ben 0]

I need to drop my gear box to change release bearing

and just wondering

Do you have to remove the whole driveshaft or can you just slide the front half

back inside the rear half? (If you know what I mean)

I havent removed the heat shielding to see whats going on around the support bearing

yet but just want to know if I can short cut removing the whole driveshaft

Any insight appreciated

Cheers Ben

[westy 614]

Take it out completely.

You can slide it into the rear half at the slip joint, but only as far as you need to, to remove it from the gear box.

It's easy.

[thorburn 120]

I don't think you have the space to slide the box back enough. I'd just remove it.

Top bolts that hold the box to the engine suck. If you can run extensions and universals to the back of the box while someone else holds the torx bit in place it should be easier.

Good luck

[westy 614]

Anybody taking gboxes out of these things needs wobble extensions like these.

They are the sh*t, seriously.

[BM WORLD 1265]

unbolt whole exhaust system , undo front part of drive shaft from gearbox, unbolt hanger beraing , push drive shaft out of teh way .

disconect the gear shifter linkage at gearbox end.

unbolt gearbox bolts and rear mount , slide back etc

[Ben 0]

Thanks for the advice guys

Working under a lowered bmw is officially on my hate list now but I got it done

I felt like an amateur after I removed the heat shielding and saw how simple it was.

Ended up removing the support bearing and the exhaust mount behind it

then the dshaft pretty much fell out.