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Caliwagon - You can do this job. As the others said, mark the flanges at the tranny and differential so that the u-joints go back together just the way they did before. This preserves the balance of the system. I use a small dab of spray paint on the edge of the assembled flanges. The splined section at the end of the front shaft and beginning of the rear shaft should each have an arrow stamped onto them. Make sure these arrows are aligned prior to dropping the driveshafts. If they are aligned, use the arows to realign the splines when you reassemble the shaft. If not, you will have to mark this part of the shaft as well.
You need two combination wrenches (15mm and 17mm, I believe) to disassemble the four bolts that hold the tranny and differential flanges. The center bearing support bracket is held to the floorpan by four bolts (12mm perhaps). You'll need a ratchet, extension and socket for the bracket. In order, I undo the differential flange bolts, tranny flange bolts, and bearing support bracket.
Be careful when removing the bearing. The last thing you want to do is distort the shaft. Use some PB Blaster if you need to. Same thing goes for reinstalling the new bearing. Tap ONLY on the edge of the inner race with the outer race unconstrained. If you have an old pipe that will fit around the end of the griveshaft and rest on the inner flange, you can use that to drive the new bearing home.
If the old bearing is still tight, it can be rehabbed without being removed from the shaft. Carefully pry off the exposed seal. A pointed knife or very sharp screwdriver plade works. Clean out the old grease using, what else, PB Blaster. Spray in the PB Blaster and spin the bearing around. It helps to use compresesed to blow out the disolved grease. Break cleaner would also work. Add more PB Blaster, repeat the process until the bearing is clean. Pack the bearing with a good quality grease and replace the seal.
After your new/rehabbed bearing is ready, reinstall the shaft. I like to rest the front shaft on a spare jackstand and install the center support bracket and bearing first. Make sure the support spring and its washer are in place. I then install the bolts for the front flanges. If the tranny is in neutral, you can spin the front shaft, giving easy access to all of the bolts. Finally, install the four bolts for the differentisl flanges.
Support the car safely on ramps or jackstands while you work and block the tires. Good luck!!!
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'88 244GL, '89 244GL, '90 244DL, '91 244, '92 244
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