rear driveshaft
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rear driveshaft
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??
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Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Florida
You took a 2 piece drive shaft apart.....
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
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
just another Rockwell looser
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Cocoa, FL
Originally Posted by quisp-n-quake
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??
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 550
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From: Hillsboro, OR
Originally Posted by quadzjr
the driveshaft is balanced independently, it has nothing to do with how it mounts on the rearend.....just install the damn thing...
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Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Florida
Just Stick It In. . . . .
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 550
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From: Hillsboro, OR
Originally Posted by Noneshere
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,603
Likes: 1
From: St Louis
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.
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