Rear drive shaft is easy to remove. I took mine in for a rebuild.

This is where I was going to post a photo of my Superduty driveshaft in the passenger side of the Prius, but photos aren't working today.



Uh... a 2-ton floor jack is too small. My truck weighs 8000 with a little light cargo and a topper. I have a 3-ton floor jack.

The front drive shaft should be completely free. Mine doesn't turn unless a hub is locked, stuck, or the transfer case is in 4WD. It sounds like something is turning your front drive shaft, or your transfer case needs service. Transfer cases are very inexpensive compared to a lot of the other hardware on the truck.

 

I was going to put my gopro camera under the truck to see if the front drive shaft turns while in 2wd and I found this video that shows it does turn a little while in 2wd. This, I think, confirms my suspicion that a front driveshaft u-joint is bad. At least thats where I'll start.

 

The front shaft can turn while driving in 2WD even with the hubs disengaged. If the noise is coming from the front shaft I would assume it would change when the hubs & T-case are engaged vs. disengaged.

 

Looks like the front shaft double cardan joint. Now to locate all the parts to fix.

 

I found one at the bottom of the ocean that looked like that.





Actually it was in much better condition, just tryin ta make you feel good about yours.

 

Figured it was a bearing somewhere! Glad ya found the cause. Now, as far as part numbers go...

U-joints, Greasable: 3x Spicer 5-178X
CV Ball: 1x Moog/Precision 617

-or-

U-Joints, Non-Greasable: 3x Spicer 5-1350X
CV Ball: 1x Moog/Precision 617

Personally I always go greasable, but seeing as the double cardan is tight, I understand about opting for the non-greasables. To my knowledge Spicer unfortunately doesn't make a CV ball, otherwise I'd have given you their part number for that as well.

Good luck on he project! Hope it won't be too hard on ya.

 

 

 

Post some pictures of the rebuild if you can.