Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) driveshaft question

[cmills]

Hey everyone, A few months ago I put in new u-joints in my truck but until today I never knew that I was supposed to mark the driveshaft to make sure I put it back on the same so that it would be sure to be balanced. I don't feel any vibration or anything so does that mean that I got lucky and put it back on the right way or could it be on wrong and I just don't feel it? I assume since I don't feel anything, I should just leave it alone and not worry about. Right? ( Please tell me yes because I get real paranoid about these kind of things)





thanks alot



Cory

 

[01smokinram]

driveshaft

that is an old wise tail about you have to mark your driveshaft. I've been installing u-joints for 10 years and i don't mark squat. Leave it alone.

 

[stevek]

Just out of curiosity, does anyone have any pointers on removing the rear driveshaft? I have to take mine off Monday to be rebuilt and am trying to decide how much of a job it will be... Thx

 

[cmills]

driveshaft

One other reason I was asking is that my brother in law had some bad u-joints in his truck and it was vibrating before well he put the new ones in and now it vibrates much worse. So we wondered if maybe it was because he didn't put the driveshaft back in right. And this is what got me all paranoid about mine maybe not being in right even though i don't feel anything.



thanks again,



Cory

 

[kaffine krazed]

You don't have to worry if you just take apart the U joints. It's if you take apart a splined portion of a drive shaft that isn't keyed then you can mess up the phasing of the U joints and cause problems.

 

[Loren]

The key is that the u-joints must be in phase. As kaffine mentioned, unless you slide the slip joint apart you will not have a problem.



If you do take it apart, it's still not a big deal. Just ensure that the yoke on the shaft (as opposed to the yoke that attaches to the transmission or axle) is vertical at both ends of the shaft when you put the slip joint back together. The yokes can both be horizontal or at any other angle, but be sure that they match. This will keep the accelerations and decelerations of the shaft in phase at both ends and they will cancel each other out.



I know that's brief, but I hope it's clear.



Loren

 

[cmills]

driveshaft

Thanks Loren, It all makes sense





Cory