124 drive shaft balance
 

I recently replaced the flex disks in my '91 124. Several years ago, I had a slight vibration and bought the new flex disks at that time. I never got around to installing them and eventually, the vibration went away...replaced by the clunking that goes along with a worn out flex disk.

So, I finally replaced both flex disks (even though the rear was fine). Now, I have the vibration again.

I marked the driveshaft halves to be sure I put them back as they were. I noticed that the driveshaft as removed was joined in a way where the factory marks were not quite aligned (see attached photos). The white marks are mine, of course. The raised marks are the factory marks.

I reassembled it with the paint marks aligned, just like it came out.

It's off thirty degrees or so. I wonder if that would be enough to cause a balance problem?

I don't know if this job has been done before and the shaft was put back a little off, or if it came that way from the factory. The bolts were all hex-head. Are the factory bolts allen-head or hex-head?

Oh yes, I replaced the bearing and carrier, too.

Thanks for looking!

if it vibrates now at original position, i would try it with the factory marks lined up, cant hurt and that is the way it is supposed to be lined up. I would expect any diff in the way it was originally balanced can throw a vibration at speed.