evening all, and congrates on what looks to be a useful site.

I am new to the stilo world and have been trying to idetify a noise underneath the car on the drivers side. by the way it is a 115hp estate.

I removed the first part of the shaft with no problems (other than every bolt appearing to be siezed solid), some play in the shaft, which I think I will get reconned, unless anyone knows of a good supply if them. But this is where my problems started. The cup for the first part of the shaft (gearbox end) would not come off. On most cars I have delbt with they just pop off. I guess I need to remove this to get further into the bearing houseing for the intermediate shaft.

Is it just tight on or do I need to remove the 3 17mm nuts to allow it to come off? I did have a quick go at trying to undo these but almost impossible to get a spanner on, and no change of a socket. So if I do what do people usually use?.

I also tryied to get the housing off, i could get the nuts on the mount off on the bottom, but then again there is a 15mm nut just above the intermediate shaft which i could get a socket on but no room to turn.

Is it normall for this bearing to go?
i hope the explaination is clear enough if not please ask. any advice would be gratefully recieved.

Would be a good help if you were to describe what this sound is like. Obviously you've already went through a bit of bother to get to the source already, but a bit of background info would help Also, don't take my word for it though but I think the driveshaft is held in with nuts or bolts at the gearbox end.

All the best with your Stilo

just a rummbling bearing noise, have checked the wheel bearings and they are ok.

if it is secured by the 3 nuts i can see, i cant see how to get them undone

I had a similar noise on my JTD 115 MW. I was convinced it was a front bearing noise until I realised that there were a few sections of road surface where the noise didn't occur. Turned out it was tyre noise. I swapped the front and rear wheels that had different brands of tyres. Not had the noise since.

I subscribe to Dave's reply. Had a pretty loud noise some 25 to 50 mph, thought all the bearings were gone. Turned out it was the tires for me as well. Changed them when spring came, no more noise.

Hi, I have exactly the same problem as described at the start of this thread. Does anyone know how to remove this section of drive shaft? I definately need to replace mine as all the lubricant has escaped the tripoid joint and there are deep sections of wear in the wall of the cups.

This may help others diagnose a problem. When I drive there is alot of vibration through the car above about 60mph and if i accelerate hard. When I look in the mirror you can see it is shaking. Its not like feedback through the steering from out of balance wheels, more vibration through the whole car. It is through the steering a bit if accelerating and cornering, but not obviously like out of alignment or something like that. Also when I turn left round a corner and accelerate there is alot more vibration.

I've had all the wheels balanced, the tracking done and have new wishbones. Having seen the wearing and the lack of lubricant I'm pretty sure the driveshaft is the issue. Hope that helps. Cheers