front drive shaft play
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Tuned
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 374
Likes: 0
From: Dudley, GA
front drive shaft play
I was under my f250 today looking at the u joints that I'm getting ready to replace and I noticed the front driveshaft had a lot of play from the area where the shaft can move in or out of itself as the suspention moves. Is there an allowable amount there or has my spline worn out? Are these fixable without replacing the whole shaft? I will be taking it apart tomorrow when I change out the joints (all 6 of them).
Thanks
Thanks
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,404
Likes: 3
From: Cleveland, WI USA
That sounds like a worn spline/yoke to me. There shouldn't be any play at all or the shaft will wabble.
Mine is the same way - I can't go too fast in 4wd because it's so wabbly. To the best of my knowledge, the spline and yoke can't be fixed. You can, however, have the old spline cut off and a new one welded on, and buy a new yoke. If you leave it like it is and just replace the u-joints, chances are you'll be replacing them again soon (depending how often you're in 4x4).
I'd try to find a front shaft at the boneyard that's in better shape.
I actually tried to fix my rear shaft by putting a small bead of weld on the end of each of the splines, and filing them down until it fit back together. It made it better, but not great. I might do it to the front shaft too just for kicks.
Kevin K.
Mine is the same way - I can't go too fast in 4wd because it's so wabbly. To the best of my knowledge, the spline and yoke can't be fixed. You can, however, have the old spline cut off and a new one welded on, and buy a new yoke. If you leave it like it is and just replace the u-joints, chances are you'll be replacing them again soon (depending how often you're in 4x4).
I'd try to find a front shaft at the boneyard that's in better shape.
I actually tried to fix my rear shaft by putting a small bead of weld on the end of each of the splines, and filing them down until it fit back together. It made it better, but not great. I might do it to the front shaft too just for kicks.
Kevin K.
