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Here is a decent read Fish, Even has kind of a neat little animation that is interesting. This also has many links too obtain the answers you are looking for.
I probably do not need to remind you about having enough travel for the slip joint. Hate it when a new shaft falls on the floor and messe up the splines cuz it was too short. http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...line-101.shtml
HaHa....well, I am not exactly sure what you are trying to get out of your driveshaft...
Do you need extended and compressed measurements? Are you trying to get a ride height measurement? Did you recently install a different lift? Why the need to change the length of your DS?
well to make a long, painful story short i bought new shafts. the guy i bought them from is an idiot and has yet to get any of my order right. i have been dealing with him for about 3 months trying to get things straightened out. i am trying to make a ride in a week and a half and just want them done. both front and rear shafts are about 1.5" too long.
so i cut off one end of each shaft and about 2" last night on both shafts. the hard part is over with. later this week or prolly this weekend i am going to test fit and see. i was just wondering if there was a magical equation to figure up optimum length without pulling out too much of the splines or in danger of punching through my t-case from being too short!
I usually just measure center of u-joint cap at the t-case to center of u-joint cap at axle in the following three positions:
Sitting on level surface
Front Driver tire fully drooped
Front Driver tire fully stuffed
Any good DS shop should be able to make you a DS to fit those numbers.
I thought you were asking the question:
"I just added X amount of lift to my truck...how much longer should the DS be?"
If that were the case, then you could use a bit of geometry (similar triangles) to figure out the length.
i will just drag the bronco out this weekend and do some measuring. i figure our little skidloader should be enough to squat each end enough to get a max squat measurement. and i can pick up each end with the bucket to get a max droop. i know those will be 2 extremes but i think thats how it needs to be.
either that or just pick up each corner with the bucket... that might be more accurate.