Possible Mistake: Rear Differential Removal

[RUSSELL5000]

To get the rear crossmember out on my 2008 Jeep Patriot, I had to remove the rear differential. I already had the trailing arms and hubs off. There were three spots anchoring to the rear crossmember; amazingly, easily removed. Then to remove the drive shaft: four bolts and support the shaft. I dropped the differential with a floor Jack, and done.

I marked the case of the differential and the shaft; I did NOT mark where the differential and u-joint base mate. I do NOT think there has been any rotation.

But suppose there has been rotation. What will happen if I do not have the exact mating of drive shaft and differential that I had originally?

Thanks.

 

[fest3er]

Shouldn't matter. What matters is absolute phase of the (ujoint) ends of the drive shaft; they need to be almost perfectly aligned.

 

[Bob4x4]

Sometimes you can get a vibration,if you do just rotate it 180