Driveshaft indexing
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 191
Likes: 11
From: McPherson, Ks
Driveshaft indexing
I took my driveshafts (2wd, 2 pc shaft) out and forgot to mark them.
I have been told they need to go back in a certain way.
I know it doesnt matter as far as trans and rearend but dont the 2 shafts have to be "indexed" in relation to each other?
Are there any marks or something that I should look for?
Thanks alot
I have been told they need to go back in a certain way.
I know it doesnt matter as far as trans and rearend but dont the 2 shafts have to be "indexed" in relation to each other?
Are there any marks or something that I should look for?
Thanks alot
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 191
Likes: 11
From: McPherson, Ks
Money is short and there isnt a local driveshaft shop(closest is 45 miles) and plus, my other car is a motorcycle (picture that,lol).
It didnt vibrate before I took it out to change U-Joints, now it does, (yes I rechecked the U-Joints to see if they were centered in the yokes).
I was just wondering if Ford put alignment marks or something on them.
Thanks again
It didnt vibrate before I took it out to change U-Joints, now it does, (yes I rechecked the U-Joints to see if they were centered in the yokes).
I was just wondering if Ford put alignment marks or something on them.
Thanks again
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,716
Likes: 15
So you have a SuperCab Long Bed, with the 2 piece driveshaft and center support bearing? You didn't list any truck details.
Driveshafts I've pulled it made a difference how it was matched to the differential end. That end was matched. The front end to the trans was not matched (that's good!).
You could mark the diff flange and the rear of the driveshaft, then disconnect and turn the shaft end 1/4 turn, and bolt it up. Try it out, then turn it another 1/4 turn in the same direction, etc. recording the results as you go. Then go with the least vibration setting. I guess you could then do the center connection next.
Driveshafts I've pulled it made a difference how it was matched to the differential end. That end was matched. The front end to the trans was not matched (that's good!).
You could mark the diff flange and the rear of the driveshaft, then disconnect and turn the shaft end 1/4 turn, and bolt it up. Try it out, then turn it another 1/4 turn in the same direction, etc. recording the results as you go. Then go with the least vibration setting. I guess you could then do the center connection next.
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 743
Likes: 1
The front shaft and the rear shaft should only go together one way. there it one spline on the slip yoke that is wider than the rest to prevent you from installing it incorrectly. As long as it is an original driveline it should have this feature. As far as phasing of the driveshaft I think that spline takes care of all of that. If you have an imbalance situation I would do as above and turn everything 1/4 turn at a time until the vibration goes away. If it doesn't go away then you might have knocked it out of balance.
To rebalance the cheap way use a couple or three hose clamps on the driveshaft. Put the screws in same clocking location with each other in a straight line. Now drive and feel for vibration. Then turn them 1/4 turn at a time until vibration lessens. If you get more vibration try using less clamps.
If the indexing got messed up because of the splines not being uni-directional then you line up the crosses on the u-joints in all of the joints in the same phase and plane. Ie. The driveline side of the u-joint at 12 and 6 0-clock on all three joints.
To rebalance the cheap way use a couple or three hose clamps on the driveshaft. Put the screws in same clocking location with each other in a straight line. Now drive and feel for vibration. Then turn them 1/4 turn at a time until vibration lessens. If you get more vibration try using less clamps.
If the indexing got messed up because of the splines not being uni-directional then you line up the crosses on the u-joints in all of the joints in the same phase and plane. Ie. The driveline side of the u-joint at 12 and 6 0-clock on all three joints.
