I have to install a new clutch in my '82 240D. Is there any special way to remove the drive shaft? I imagine I just unbolt it at both ends and in the middle and slide it out. Do I have to be careful not to let it bend?

Thanks,

Scott

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Scott
1982 Mercedes 240D, 4 speed, 275,000
1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (70,000)
1987 Porsche 911 Coupe 109,000 (sold)
1998 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel 147,000 (sold)
1985 Mercedes 300D 227,000 (totaled by inattentive driver with no insurance!)
1997 Mercedes E300 Diesel 236,000 (sold)
1995 Ducati 900SS (sold)
1987 VW Jetta GLI 157,000 (sold)
1986 Camaro 125,000 (sold - P.O.S.)
1977 Corvette L82 125,000 (sold)
1965 Pontiac GTO 15,000 restored (sold)

You have it pretty much. It's pretty straight forward. Just make sure you align things the same way they were when you took it out. You'll have to mark the flanges on the shaft and on the differential and trans.
If you seperated the halves of the shaft make sure you mark them so the halves go back together the same way. All this marking and aligning is done in the name of keeping the shaft balanced.

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You don't have to remove it, just wedge it up out of the way
after letting it go. (leaving the flex coupling attached to the tranny) There will be room to pull the tranny, no problem. Just be sure and jack the car up enough to get the tranny out once it clears the 'drive shaft aly. Leave the tranny cross member on the tranny and just let the two 17mm bolts go. Plus the exhaust bracket. Be sure and DONT pull the D/S apart. I mark it (punch marks, both halves) Just in case. Another trick is to remove the clutch slave from the bell housing (2 10mm bolts & a bracket). That way you wont have to bleed the clutch system.

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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"