2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Front Drive shaft- How does it come off?

[cmckinney]

Guys I wanted to take off my front drive shaft and was wondering what the trick is to getting it off?



I see the bolts for the front of the drive shaft but where the u-joints connect to the transfer case how do you unbolt that?





**Testing to see if my drive line is out of balance.



-CM

 

[Bill_L]

if I remember correctly the transfercase end has a 4 bolt flange that has to be unbolted. Nothing big there. The lower end has 4 nuts with some some u bolts that hold it on.



Shouldnt take but a few minutes to drop both ends.



Bill

 

[cmckinney]

What tools did you use to get the 4 bolts off of the x-fer case. They seem to be in an odd spot b/c of the u-joints.



Any helpful tip?



-CM

 

[Bill_L]

I think we used a box end wrench with another hooked onto it for a longer reach. just one bolt at a time. get one then turn the shaft and so on... the bolts should be a 12point.



Bill

 

[Loren]

CM,



One other hint. You don't have to crawl out from under the truck to lock the driveshaft, that is, to prevent it from turning while you work on the bolts.



Leave the truck in gear, or park. Then loosen the bolt that you can get to. When you need to rotate a different bolt into position to get to it, just reach up and grab the transfer case shift linkage. Push or pull it as necessary to put the transfer case into neutral. Rotate the driveshaft to where you want it and select a drive gear with the transfer case. This will allow you to work on the bolts without fighting the driveshaft.



Removing that driveshaft is a very easy operation. Once you crawl under there and start the job it will go fast.



Loren

 

[bmoeller]

I used a universal socket but a box-end wrench would work better.

 

[MCummings]

Originally posted by Loren

CM,



One other hint. You don't have to crawl out from under the truck to lock the driveshaft, that is, to prevent it from turning while you work on the bolts.



Leave the truck in gear, or park. Then loosen the bolt that you can get to. When you need to rotate a different bolt into position to get to it, just reach up and grab the transfer case shift linkage. Push or pull it as necessary to put the transfer case into neutral. Rotate the driveshaft to where you want it and select a drive gear with the transfer case. This will allow you to work on the bolts without fighting the driveshaft.



Removing that driveshaft is a very easy operation. Once you crawl under there and start the job it will go fast.



Loren

Just be sure the parking brake is set and/or the wheels or chocked. !!!



Don't need to see what a 6K+Lb truck feels like going over you... .



Be safe,

Good luck

 

[cmckinney]

Well I won't have a problem with the driveshaft turning since the 02's have the shaft that is always engaged.



We'll see how it goes.



-CM

 

[Loren]

Oh, yes. I did forget that one small detail. Don't let the truck run you over.



If your front axle is always engaged, you may have to jack one or both tires clear of the pavement so you can turn the driveshaft. I think that there will be some bolts you can't remove without turning it.



Loren