b35i's propeller shaft
A three parts/two bearings master piece, with a very high critical number of revolutions, (tested, at least, at 250km/h), without any vibrations, for the Syncro cars, (but not for all of them, t3 and b5 (?) are excluded).
Golf II Syncro
Passat b35i Syncro
Transporter/Caravelle/Eurovan Syncro t4
But what about the propeller shaft for the Haldex? Let's have a look:
Golf 5
Golf 7
Tiguan
Passat Alltrack
At least at the above models, we can see that it is composed by two parts and one bearing, (having the advantage of less friction, but....).
Of course there are and other, high-tec, 4wd, cars with a three parts propeller shaft...
Opel Insignia 4wd
O.k., I can hear you saying that this is not of such a big deal e.t.c., e.t.c....
Yes, but we haven't finish yet...
As we can see at the above picture of the Passat Syncro, the front shaft bearing is at the very hot neighborhood of the catalysators.
So, a serious vw, gave a solution, by feeding the bearing with fresh air, by putting this ducts:
Here:
(And from here to the front bearing, my first attempt to take a photo to the exact point was unsuccessful).
After 25 years of usage, there are no signs of wear or, even, of the slightest vibrations at all.
26/July/2018
What is avoided with this design to a b3 Syncro.
Why a t3 Syncro needs this design.
21/April/2019
~ 298.000 km and a clicking noise made necessary to change:
#1 The front 9a, cv joint. It was the main noise source.The rear remains, as it looks brand new!
#2 The two central bearings, 14 & 15. According to Vortex folks:
"Disassembled
my prop shaft today, both bearings have a 30mm inner race (1.180") and are
13mm deep (.512") which is identical to the BMW E30 center driveshaft
bearing. If you're swapping into a non-Syncro car I would highly suggest
using the E30 bearings since they're $13 USD."
This is it:
Many orders cheaper than the O.E.M. and better, since the circumference is bigger, so there is better vibrations absorption, (although this beauty in the shafts world, does not vibrate at all, even at the highest speeds).
There is a need for some adaptation though, so here we are:
Before:
Before:
After:
Marking precisely any part before disassembly to avoid the need for a new balance, here we are:
A "CS-P Premium quality", Chinese cv joint, with conventional cv boot, (not proper for the cardan shaft), since my technician is faster than me in purchasing decisions. He swears for this uknown to me Chinese brand. We 'll see, the fact is that the starting operational quality, is absolutely perfect.
The shaft is Hammerited, just one heavy coat of the new, inferior , (as said), stuff.
The hubs, for the central bearings, are coated with primer and Hammerited, since the metal is virgin.
For the new two central bearings, the BMW's 5 m.m. pretension rule is respected.
The results are stunning, easily, and this feeling is coming from the past difficulties I had, trying to repair the t3's cardan shaft, mission, (almost), impossible.
