Just picked up parts to get my front drive shaft rebuilt on Friday. My wife was driving in town when the truck starting shaking - then the big noise! She stopped right away, thank God, and called me at work. I knew right away what it was. I drove it a week ago and on the highway I felt a little shake in the wheel and did a search and knew it was the drive shaft. Thought for sure I would make it til Friday, there are 94000 miles on it and it was the original shaft. Should have had her stop driving it right away - glad this didnt happen on the interstate as she commutes to work. I only got to look under it for about 5 minutes as it is 10 degrees here. There does not seem to be terrible damage-couple bumps, dings and scratches-it broke off at the transfer case-no major damage. I am taking it off tomorrow night to bring in for the rebuild. Anything else I should look for damage wise that I might be missing or damage that might have been done to the shaft? I know people have marked the shaft before removing it so that it goes on the same way but I dont think I am going to be able to do that now because it broke off at the joints on the transfer case but part is still bolted to to the case, so the shaft was turning from the front end but the back section I assume was stationary being bolted to the transfer case........if this makes sense???? Just worried I wont get the rebuilt back in the right way.

Thanks for any advice.

 

Are the driveshaft yokes still good? I one of my u-joints go bad and it destroyed the yoke, luckily it did not come all the way out. I went with a Tom Woods driveshaft, Had it 2 days after placing the order, works good, it cost $380 with the premium splines.

Willie

 

with out seeing a picture, I would be surprised if you could rebuild that drive shaft after having it come apart in the way it did.

 

Here are some pictures - may be worse than I thought earlier.....

 

inspect your transmission housing really well, then do it again.

usually when that stinker lets go, it hits the trans housing, look for at least cracks.

you realize it keeps spinning until the wheels stop turning.

luck,greg

 

Yup, the propshaft is toast, I wouldn't rebuild it. Any photos of the gearbox?

 

You are done, order another... Everywhere on here it says to stop driving....too bad man..

Have you checked to see if you can lock the transfer case? Pull all of the bits for the driveshaft and check on top of the transfer case to see if you can lock it manually. At least you can limp it for a couple of days while waiting on your new shaft. They did away with the locking mechanism in mid-2001, so you may be in luck and your wife can still drive it. I would really check the rotoflex at the back before doing this. Make sure it is perfect, or you will loose your rear shaft too..