Play in driveshaft
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New User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 17
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Play in driveshaft
I have a 76 f-250 with a 390 and the four speed with granny low and i have a little play in the drive shaft not up and down move ment but it has about a half an inch of rotateing play and is notiable if you let of the gas fast. just curious if any one else has this problem.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 5,241
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From: Other side of the sunrise
Where is the play? If it is at the U joint, then you need new U joints. U joints should not have any play. You probably know that though. If it is in the rear end, then that is back lash. There should be some but too much. Too much is not a good thing. Check in a chilton or haynes manual for those specs. (i think they are listed there)
Anyone else here know backlash tolerance?
Get under the truck with the P brake set and the tires chocked, with the truck in neutral. Then get a hold of the drive shaft and twist it back and forth to locate the play source.
Anyone else here know backlash tolerance?
Get under the truck with the P brake set and the tires chocked, with the truck in neutral. Then get a hold of the drive shaft and twist it back and forth to locate the play source.
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 743
Likes: 1
You can easily get that much play out of a worn but not worn out truck. Even new trucks have a lot of play.
1/2 " is about right. Whatever play you have in the spider gears and axle-shafts is multiplied by the gear ratio, then you have the backlash in the gears as well as play from worn slip yokes etc.
1/2 " is about right. Whatever play you have in the spider gears and axle-shafts is multiplied by the gear ratio, then you have the backlash in the gears as well as play from worn slip yokes etc.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,546
Likes: 46
From: Kemmerer, Wyoming
If I were you. I'd pull the diff cover and take a look at the gears just to make sure there isn't any excessive wear. This also gives you a prime opportunity to change the gear oil. That's how the wear in my rear started, I noticed what I thought was a little too much play in my rear end.
12 months and 2,500 mi. later, I had to change the rear end because my ring and pinion were absolutely shot. By that time, you could turn the driveshaft a whole 2" or so before it caught.
12 months and 2,500 mi. later, I had to change the rear end because my ring and pinion were absolutely shot. By that time, you could turn the driveshaft a whole 2" or so before it caught.
