Hello All, I've had 2 front driveshafts fail. The first one was a HD drive shaft that came with my RTE lift. It failed at about 10K miles on the new lift. So I had Abran from CARS4X4 install a new HD front shaft. He also installed a spacer on it, and one in the rear as well. The 2nd drive shaft failed at about 3K miles. I'm running the complete 4in lift from RTE. Anyone else have this lift with front drive shaft issues? I lube them every other oil change. Thanks for any recommendations. I hope I can figure whats causing the failure.

 

what's your caster angle? stock , 3 degree, or 6 degree? Stock actually lessens the severity of the shaft angle. Spacer not needed as it increases the severity of the d shaft angle...assuming you have correct length double cardan D shaft.

Check the input shaft on the front diff for any play. Check the output shaft on the TC for any play. Play will lessen life of D shaft.

I had a stock cheapy ebay front D shaft without spacer on a 4" lift and it was fine.

find out what exactly failed on the shaft...center ball? U- joint failed?

 

Thanks XRAD, I believe it is the center ball that is failing. I have front & rear radius arm from the RTE kit. I dont know if they are 3 or 6 degree. Both of the failed drive shafts were heavy duty. Abran from CARS4x4 recommended the spacer when the first drive shaft failed. Im probably gonna try a Toms Woods drive shaft next. Sheesh its getting expensive. lol

 

I had x2 HD shafts. One was perfectly smooth T woods version until the center ball failed...I'm rebuilding that one. Bought a new T woods shaft but it was so far out of balance I had to return it. I bought a different brand HD double cardan, and it shook badly at 50mph like the T woods... I returned that one. Tried clocking both HD shafts as well......My diff input flange and TC flange were rock solid. I put in a 'lightweight OEM' version greasable double cardan ebay shaft and it's been fine...

 

Thx XRAD, I will look into that. If thats what it takes, I'll give it a try.

 

I have two tom woods and both have been great. Definitely hit or miss it seems with the balancing but they will rebalance and send it back to you I believe. I also second no spacer.

 

Thanks, I'm going to purchase one. Evidently they are aware of these failing on 4in lifted D2's, so they have a special fix for it. I will not use the spacer on the new one.