RE: Milano center donut

[Chris <chris@domain.elided>]

Hi,

>    I am trying to replace the center donut on my Milano.  Is there an "easy"
> way of doing this, or am I supposed to lower the tranny in order to make
> room for the second half of the shaft to come down?  Thank you for any
> advice you could give me.

Why only replace the center donut? If you're this far, replace them all!
(you'll have to anyway, 'cause the rear guibo will give up in the next
3000 miles or so.)

Removing the drive shaft is a simple enough task anyway:
(takes about 3-4 hours with plenty of coffee and smokes in between :))
Remove the "bridge" under the center shaft bearing, remove nuts from
front guibo, remove nuts and bolts from back guibo.
IMPORTANT! mark places of rings, nuts and bolts, and be sure to put
every item where it was!!!!!)

Remove the 6 bolts holding the sub frame (that's where the front end of
the transaxle rests upon, don't worry it won't fall down :))
Now you can easily remove the drive shaft.
This is also the moment to inspect the silent blocks holding the gearbox
to the sub frame, especially the RH one tends to break... replace now!

Splitting the shaft:
Be sure to mark the orientation of the shafts.
Remove nuts and bolts from center guibo (see remark above!)
Inspect the seals and the dust cap, replace if cracked.
Reassemble shaft, leave the "compression rings" on the guibos!

Reinstall in car:
First front guibo, put a jack under the deDion tube (right where the
Watt
rods connect) and jack up... you'll notice the transaxle and sub frame
rising... reconnect back guibo and sub frame (you marked how it
connected
to the yoke right? Same goes for the front end . . )
Reinstall the "bridge".

Now remove the "compression rings" from the guibos.
Et voila, yer dun.

A word on momentum... Alfa says: 60 to 70 Nm with special tool
such-and-so
If you don't have this tool, just fasten nice and tight. 
(to give a measure: about 2/3's the strength needed to get them loose)

Hope this helps,

    Chris Piepers
    The Netherlands
Unfortunately not at this year's "Mille Miglia" :(

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