Front Wheel Drive

[the fox 1940]

A while back I remember hearing someone on here saying they had troubles with the Front four wheel drive on there Branson .
I have a 2011 3510i and I just came back from the Dealer and he told me that in the front drive shaft there is a plastic ring with teeth on the inside of the ring. The ring is about one inch in diameter,and about 1/8 wide. He said they have been cutting those off as the spring that pushes that shaft together in the front hub so the balls will connect for the four wheel drive to couple together tight has a bad habit of binding on the shaft and the spring is not strong enough to push it ahead causing the front gears to tear themselves apart.
I write this as I would hate to see anyone have this problem just because a little small plastic ring binds on the shaft and tears things apart.
While I was there with the Tractor he cut this plastic ring off my tractor, so
I would not have it wreck things. He did tell me that he is cutting them all off the new ones now that come in before they are sold to any one.
Just thought I would pass that along .
The Fox

 

[bobmisi]

Not sure that is a good idea, but lets assume he knows what he is doing. Something has to keep the balls in place so they can't fall out of place. If they fall out of place, you will not have four wheel drive. This happened to me. (Check the older posts.) I would guess this piece of plastic has a function or it would not be part of the food chain. Good luck.......................

 

[the fox 1940]

Not sure that is a good idea, but lets assume he knows what he is doing. Something has to keep the balls in place so they can't fall out of place. If they fall out of place, you will not have four wheel drive. This happened to me. (Check the older posts.) I would guess this piece of plastic has a function or it would not be part of the food chain. Good luck.......................

There is a spring that pushes on the plastic ring. But the ring gets hung up sliding up the splined shaft there for not allowing the balls to be pushed tightly into place.The spring is not strong enough to over come it.
The Fox