Driveshaft Flex-Joint / Guibo Bracket Question - What Is This?

[Muligan]

While I had the Mule torn down for some inspection and prep, I came across a small rectangular aluminum piece that is riveted to the bottom of the driveshaft flex-joint (guibo). It's actually not riveted on very well and moves and rattles quite a bit.

Does anyone know what the purpose for this little piece is? It's the piece with the two blue and one green paint marks......

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[Cobra Jet]

The only thing I can think of would be it's something used on the assembly line for ease of pick up and/or install alignment during the assembly process?

I can't see the aluminum piece being used for any type of weight counterbalance, because the square aluminum is just the stationary mounting housing for the flex joint.

I have seen other M6G members also say that the center flex joint is currently not a service part.... I can't confirm that, but it's weird if it is not, because on BMW's using a similar part for their driveshafts, it is serviceable separate from replacing the w toner driveshaft.

 

[Epiphany]

Mini heat shield.

 

[Muligan]

Yeah - I'll buy that.

 

[Epiphany]

Notice it is protecting the bottom of the radius, where the aluminum can't dissipate heat as well as the two "corners." Convection from the exhaust makes it difficult for that aluminum chunk to stay cool. It must have an impact on service life or they wouldn't have done it.

 

[Hobdul]

Interesting to see. My 2018 GT350 does not have this. Today my mechanic noticed cracking in the guibo.

 

[Egparson202]

How many miles? Could it be expected aging? Wear & tear?

 

[Hobdul]

How many miles? Could it be expected aging? Wear & tear?

I'm at 16K miles, of which 6300 were from the first owner and the rest since I bought it in March 2022, with ~25 track days (all from me) on it. My mechanic (Shelby specialist) wasn't surprised to see the cracking at that mileage given the track usage--fit into the "Everything is a consumable with track use" bucket in his view.

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