Author Topic: Did my guibo self-destruct? (Read 4130 times)

M42boy · « **on:** July 20, 2006, 12:29:14 AM »

While pulling my driveshaft, it appears that my guibo has significant wear after only a few weeks of use. It's got splitting of the rubber around where the bolts go through. I don't know if this is "okay" as the cracks clearly don't go through it... but, this could be the source of my vibration issues.

Question now is... What happened to cause this condition?

Could an imbalanced/bad driveshaft tear up a guibo that quickly??

Is there any way it could be installed incorrectly causing it to fail prematurely?

I'll take some pics of it tomorrow or over the weekend when I get a chance.

bmwman91 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 20, 2006, 01:18:34 AM »

Do you experience any really rough vibrations consistently at certain engine speeds/gears? If so, then the shaft halves may be mis-aligned and out of phase-balance. The center support bushing could also be shot.

sheepdog · « **Reply #2 on:** July 20, 2006, 11:55:04 AM »

Check the CSB as well.

Could be a combination of things.

M42boy · « **Reply #3 on:** July 20, 2006, 12:48:55 PM »

I should add that the Center Support Bearing is new, although the prop shaft has never been rebuilt.

sheepdog · « **Reply #4 on:** July 20, 2006, 03:46:06 PM »

Quote from: M42boy

I should add that the Center Support Bearing is new, although the prop shaft has never been rebuilt.

Driveshafts on e30's rarely are problematic since they have an independent rear end. So it barely moves at all, it mostly just spins in-line.

A bad guibo will thump on acceleration.

M42boy · « **Reply #5 on:** July 20, 2006, 10:21:39 PM »

It's clear to me now, the guibo failed, but my question is why? It was brand new and replaced only a month or two ago.

What could have killed it that fast? Can a bad driveshaft U-joint kill a guibo that quickly if you drive on it?

What about bmwman's theory of the rear half-shafts being out of phase? How do I check that?

Febi Guibo · « **Reply #6 on:** July 21, 2006, 05:27:55 AM »

did you use new bolts with your new guibo?

Vladi · « **Reply #7 on:** July 21, 2006, 07:01:22 AM »

What brand was the guibo?

Febi Guibo · « **Reply #8 on:** July 21, 2006, 07:18:49 AM »

Quote from: Vladi

What brand was the guibo?

uh oh...

M42boy · « **Reply #9 on:** July 21, 2006, 12:10:20 PM »

Quote from: Febi Guibo

did you use new bolts with your new guibo?

No, I didn't use new bolts, but they are tight as a drum, so does that really matter... the idea is that you want to use new bolts so they don't rattle themselves loose.

I do not know the manufacture of the guibo, but may have been Febi! Althought it was not Febi Guibo.

I got it from Bavarian Autosport, so it's not some fly by night operation.

Like I said, it was brand new a few weeks ago... Someone is telling me to check that the driveshaft was "in phase" and bmwman was asking if the half shafts are "in phase"....

What does that mean? I need to get it fixed, but would like to know what to fix. I was going to drop off the driveshaft to get rebuilt, but now I'm not so sure that's what the problem is. Any help here??? I'm just getting more lost! I want to fix my car so I can actually drive it and stop looking at it sitting on jackstands in the garage. Please help!!!

sheepdog · « **Reply #10 on:** July 21, 2006, 12:49:03 PM »

Quote from: M42boy

No, I didn't use new bolts, but they are tight as a drum, so does that really matter... the idea is that you want to use new bolts so they don't rattle themselves loose.

I do not know the manufacture of the guibo, but may have been Febi! Althought it was not Febi Guibo. I got it from Bavarian Autosport, so it's not some fly by night operation.

Like I said, it was brand new a few weeks ago... Someone is telling me to check that the driveshaft was "in phase" and bmwman was asking if the half shafts are "in phase"....

What does that mean? I need to get it fixed, but would like to know what to fix. I was going to drop off the driveshaft to get rebuilt, but now I'm not so sure that's what the problem is. Any help here??? I'm just getting more lost! I want to fix my car so I can actually drive it and stop looking at it sitting on jackstands in the garage. Please help!!!

If the bearing is bad, or the joints are out of phase it could vibrate it enough to cause damage, but I doubt it. It is designed to flex and give.

As for phase, the joints must be aligned a certain way. Otherwise they bind up as the driveshaft turns.

One other things to check, on the csb, the mount is adjustable, if it is too far forward or back it could put pressure on the bearing and the guibo making it flex more than normal. This could lead to premature failure of both. The csb may also not be aligned right as well.

bmwman91 · « **Reply #11 on:** July 21, 2006, 01:34:56 PM »

Not the half shafts...

The HALVES of the driveshaft. It is a 2-piece shaft. They must be put together ina particular way. Pull it out and check that the white marks are aligned. They should be on the yokes where they join, proably covered in dirt.

Vladi · « **Reply #12 on:** July 21, 2006, 01:39:57 PM »

Quote from: Febi Guibo

uh oh...

What?