That's what I assumed, but gave up after trying for a while. However, it is a good idea to take it apart and look at the splines. I had one that didn't seem bad but when I pulled it apart the splines were absolutely gone. The only thing keeping it from flopping all over was the hard grease - until I lubed it and pushed all of that out.

 

If it were me, I'd keep the part number.

 

My rear shafts are pull off as far as I know. When I actually pull it apart I'll give some updates.

The old grease will definately be cleaned out and replaced, and the sticker will stay in place. I'll just paint around it.

 

I'll ask how they come apart when I pick up my gold-plated shaft on Friday.

Alan - Some things to "look" for when you get the shaft installed. Both of my two identical shafts vibrated at some speed between 60 and 70 while cruising. And, the amount of the vibration was somewhat dependent on which way it was installed in the yoke at the transfer case. By that I mean if I rotated the shaft by 180˚ at the transfer case and put it back in the yoke it changed the vibration.

One of the changes rotating the shaft made was for it to also vibrate when letting off of the throttle. On the shaft with the least wear there was no vibration when it was installed in the yoke one way but a slight vibration with just the right amount of throttle when installed the other way. But the other shaft was worn so much that it vibrated when letting off the throttle no matter which way it was installed.

I hope yours doesn't vibrate at all, but that info's just in case.

 

Thanks for the details Gary. I wont know of vibrations for a little while, but will keep it in mind when I do a test drive. But it will be a lot better than the one already on the truck, I can say right now.

Did/do your shafts have any weights on them? My newer shaft doesn't.

 

Yes, both shafts have one weight on them.