Drive shaft issue question...
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Cross-Country
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 54
Likes: 7
Drive shaft issue question...
I lowered my F100 5-6" in the rear and changed rear ends from a Ford 9" to a Dana 44.
Now my drive shaft seems to be too long?
This is a 3-speed manual transmission truck.
Any thoughts or advice?
Now my drive shaft seems to be too long?
This is a 3-speed manual transmission truck.
Any thoughts or advice?
Last edited by BrotherMabe; Sep 5, 2013 at 04:00 PM. Reason: Now the drive shaft is stuck in the manual transmission!
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 14,255
Likes: 199
From: Phoenix, Az.
Makes sense to me. Call your local driveshaft company to double check me. Or a fellow FTE er will chime in. If I were to measure it I would put slip yoke about 3/4 the way in the tranny and measure the driveshaft center of u-joint cap to center of the opposite u-joint cap.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,396
Likes: 4
From: Cupertino
Make your measurement as Jefa suggests. Take the driveshaft you have along with your measurement to a suspension or rear-end shop, have it cut, shortened to the proper dimension, rewelded. Maybe get the u-joints replaced for drill.
Semper Fi
Semper Fi
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,396
Likes: 4
From: Cupertino
Yes, Lizard, I am scratching my head also.
Brother, you have severely distorted the geometry that the Ford engineers put in your driveline. The level of the rear-end goesoutta should match the level at the transmission goesinta. If they do not match, your driveshaft will "skip rope" which means imbalance and the transmission spline slipping in and out to accomodade the mismatch. Even if you cut and fit a new driveshaft you will probably have severe vibrations at highway speeds.
My advice is to get the thing to a rear-end shop, let them adjust the angles of attack on the driveline, cut and reweld the driveshaft.
Brother, you have severely distorted the geometry that the Ford engineers put in your driveline. The level of the rear-end goesoutta should match the level at the transmission goesinta. If they do not match, your driveshaft will "skip rope" which means imbalance and the transmission spline slipping in and out to accomodade the mismatch. Even if you cut and fit a new driveshaft you will probably have severe vibrations at highway speeds.
My advice is to get the thing to a rear-end shop, let them adjust the angles of attack on the driveline, cut and reweld the driveshaft.
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 14,255
Likes: 199
From: Phoenix, Az.
I believe you can get some thin tapered spacers for at the spring pads to change your pinion angle.
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Cross-Country
Joined: Jan 2013
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I know it may have seemed like a crazy idea to change the entire rear-end, but I came across this Dana 44 at a bargain. ($120)
It is super clean and it came out of a '66 F100, plus it already had a posi-unit, and a 3.54 gear, which is two of the upgrades I was looking for, so I just couldn't pass it up!
I am scheduled to pick up the drive shaft no later than Tuesday of next week.
I hope it will work out.
I will keep you updated.
Here's a few pics:
i1353.photobucket.com/albums/q674/BrotherMabe/null_zps03953774.jpg
i1353.photobucket.com/albums/q674/BrotherMabe/390-32_zpsa394bb29.jpg
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Cross-Country
Joined: Jan 2013
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Hopeful...
I am putting the shortened drive shaft in soon.
I am hoping that the pinion angle is ok.
If not, I did find a machine shop that makes the shims for the perches on the Dana 44.
Im excited about getting everything put back to see how it works.
Ill keep everyone updated...
One more pic here:
I am hoping that the pinion angle is ok.
If not, I did find a machine shop that makes the shims for the perches on the Dana 44.
Im excited about getting everything put back to see how it works.
Ill keep everyone updated...
One more pic here:
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 3,928
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I lowered my short bed 5-3/4" in the rear. My driveshaft was just a taste too long after the lowering mod. I kept the stock driveshaft and had a brand new driveshaft built in case I want to return my truck to stock height. I always tell people to measure the pinion angle prior to any rear suspension mods. 4-5 degrees upward should be good. The pinion angle should mirror the driveline angle.
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