Drive Shaft Wrench

[mBdrvr]

Removing the transmission or flex disk requires sliding the front section of the drive shaft back about 2 inches. The 46mm nut on the drive shaft forward of the centering ring is a bear to loosen unless you have the correct tool.

I bought a 46mm wrench from McMaster Carr: https://www.mcmaster.com/#catalog/124/2808/=1b9p1xg for about $50 with shipping.

With the 46mm wrench on the nut and a pipe wrench on the drive shaft (not the smaller nut next to the 46mm one), the nut loosened easily.

The right tools save lots of time and frustration.

[mbzse]

.../... sliding the front section of the drive shaft back about 2 inches. The 46mm nut on the drive shaft forward of the centering ring.../...

A tip re: this joint on the propeller shaft (drive shaft), there is a specified torque from M-B (see BBB) for this sleeve nut at assembly, 35Nm i.e. not very tight. Also, clean the splines and lightly grease them. Why?
Well the drive shaft will adjust itself to a suitable, low tension position lengthwise, for when driving your car. If you tighten this sleeve nut super tight, you will (may) introduce a tension resulting in wear and frame noise.

[Tyler S]

It is also a good idea to loosen this nut when aligning the rear axle or replacing the trailing arm bushings and donuts. The splines usually wont move with the nut tght. Makes life much easier.