Here are a few comments on progress:

The 12-Ton press from Harbor Freight arrived and I got the center support bearing pressed into the bearing support bracket. Yes, I know a press is overkill for the job. However, I had such a hard time doing this on the first try with a vice, and I didn't get it straight, that I wanted a press. Besides, if this works I'm still ahead on a driveshaft overhaul, and I can do ball joints and the like later.

The bearing support bracket received this time was FEBI brand. Far superior in construction tolerances than the no-name brand received on my first center bearing replacement attempt. It was extremely hard to get the bearing into the no-name support bracket. With the FEBI, it was an easy fit - you can probably use a vice to get the bearing in a FEBI support.

Next, I went ahead and ordered part 123 410 01 31 U-Joint. What I received was a GKN U721, marked 111 410 00 31. It is not a fit for the OEM driveshaft. Here are the measurements taken with a caliper:

New Old Stock OEM Lobro: 24.07 mm x 74.2 mm

GKN U721: 26.03 mm x 70 mm

The first number is the diameter of the four "barrels" and the second number is the measurement all the way across the U-Joint.

It might be possible to make the GKN U721 fit if the driveshaft yokes were machined out 2 mm to make the four "barrels" fit. I don't want to do that. The measurement taken of the driveshaft yoke diameter was 24.04 mm.

The GKN U-Joint is good quality, with a grease fitting. Too bad its the wrong size - perhaps with the OEM measurements a proper GKN can be found. I'll post close-up photos of the OEM Lobro and the GKN later.

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Bottom line:

Try to get a FEBI center support bracket.

Don't get the 123 410 01 31 part.

Ken300D