I heard a number of times to mark the driveshaft and the axel flange when removing the driveshaft,-I'm guessing for the balance weight that are sometimes welded on the shaft.-but what if you changed out the rear axel? whats the procedure for lineing that driveshaft up on a replacement axel??

 

Far as I know you ......just install it.
If it shakes a little , give it another 1/4 turn at the axle.

But the 2 piece driveshafts have balance marks of relation to each other also .

The small factory stamped marks(dots) tell the relation of how they connect.

Wipe the very end face of the male splined shaft, in addition to the center hole there is a small dot stamped in the very end (top face) to one side of the center hole.

Then look at the side (near the top) of the female shaft and find the dot stamped there.

When you put the 2 shafts together line the dots up with each other.

These 2 shafts must be aligned to ensure they are balanced with relation of each other.


The dot system is not allways used to mark the relations. Sometimes there is just a (one) thicker "key" spline , and you cannot put these shafts together with out matching the thicker spline on the male shaft , to the thicker groove on the female shaft.. It just wont connect , you have to put the thicker spline in the thicker groove.

But if you have this much correct then you should be able to just set the shaft in almost any position . unless you have a problem with the output shaft on the transmission or maybe a pinion/flange problem.

The shaft with dots will fit any way you put them together , but only 1 way is the balanced position . Dot 2 Dot

 

the driveshaft is balanced independently, it has nothing to do with how it mounts on the rearend.....just install the damn thing...

 

That was always my thought. There should be no relation between the shaft and the rear yoke. Just bolt it up.

 

Fair enough, -thanks.

 

Drive Shaft Alignment Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O27wUPdUkdM&feature=related

 

Watched the video. Has nothing to do with the rear yoke. Install it where it fits. Done.

 

Agree with the statement of just install the driveshaft, as it is not balanced at the factory with the yoke/flange of the axle or the output of the tranny/transfercase. Those pieces are independant of the driveshaft and as long as you have the driveshaft pieces aligned correctly, you are set.

 

Yeah, I dont have the telescopic driveshaft,-I have the long solid one.- this is what the Haynes manual must be referring too, I'm just gonna throw it in, thanks everyone.