Rear driveshaft maintenance

[Mikealwa]

I have an ix and I've touched and replaced components of just about every system on the car in the year I've owned it now, no exaggeration. However I haven't yet looked at the rear driveshaft. I bought a new quibo, and csb as well as a u joint, but if I'm going to go through all of the trouble to expose the driveshaft and take it out what else should I consider having on hand? I'm not keen to have the thing rebalanced, but if it's an absolute must maybe I would do that. The car has 300,000 mi plus, but for the first time since I've owned it I finally feel like I've addresses everything that could leave me stranded...which I already have been twice..knock on wood, so I don't want to send the driveshaft away for x weeks months etc if it's not really necessary.

[superj]

You don't need to have it rebalanced, just mark the two halves before you split it. Then it will go back together balanced.

[Mikealwa]

You think a new u joint, csb and guibo should be a good refresh? I can only assume based on what I've seen on the rest of the car that the rear driveshaft has had no maintenance ever...most likely.

[superj]

Can you put a new u-joint in? I thought they were not able to be changed easily?

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I think it will be fine if you do that stuff though

[Mikealwa]

Thanks for the insight, yah I impulse bought it, looking at it seems like it's be a challenge to replace. I'll look I to it.

[richardodn]

Stuff to do on a one piece iX rear driveshaft. Note that even though you'll do a rebalance, mark the sections for reassembly in the same position.

Centering sleeve (26117526611) - this is a piece of rubber that goes in the front tip of the driveshaft. The old one may not need replacing but the part is cheap enough. I'd add this to your list if you're doing a full refurbishment. It is a PITA. I think I had to burn the old one out.
Threaded ring with clamp ring (26117514037) - this is the big nut you loosen to collapse the driveshaft and the internal compressible sleeve that has likely turned to jelly. It comes as a kit, but all you'll use is the compressible sleeve. The nut is for a 2 piece driveshaft. You reuse the toothed gear. Inside the rear shroud is a dust seal ring. I've never found a part number for it so you'll reuse that too.

Service
U-joint - see if you have a local driveshaft service company. Have them do the driveshaft and rebalance.

Assembly
Guibo/Flex disk - you can reuse the bolts, but replace the 6 locknuts (07129964672)
In back I'd replace all 4 bolts (26111206718) and locknuts (07129964672)

When you're trying to collapse the driveshaft, the big nut you have to loosen looks like it's threaded into the tailpiece and you'll think you want to turn it CCW looking from front to back. It's actually threaded on the front piece so it's CCW looking from back to front.

Here's a link to a photo album with some iX driveshaft pics in it. https://photos.app.*******/SCyohcc6sRJDRX2dA

[Mikealwa]

Awesome! Thanks for the detail this is extremely helpful! I greased the splines on my front driveshaft last year, but didn't replace the lock nuts or bolts. Is that as pertinent up front? Also, the photo link doesn't work, but I should get the idea.