Porsche Repair: Drive shaft removal, shaft removal, drive shaft

Question
i have a 1985 porshce 944.  i am trying to remove the drive shaft and can't get it out.  How do u remove it?  the exhaust is off and the shaft is inside a tube.

Answer
Hi Ken,

You're staring at the problem.  The 944's are fairly unique in that the driveshaft is really a driveshaft assembly.  The "tube" you refer to is what has to come out.  The driveshaft is mounted in two large front and rear bearing-type assemblies to ensure it rotates smoothly.  The tube has to be disconnected from the engine and the rear transaxle much like diconnecting a transmission from an engine in 99% of the other cars.  One or both the engine and the transaxle have to be moved out of the way to do this.  Sorry for the bad news.

Dave