60 series front drive shaft forward, backward, does it matter? (2 Viewers)

[Spook50]

So I pulled my front drive shaft from my H55F 62 today to put in new U joints (preventative maintenance) and on checking the FSM I realized that it had been installed backward. Does it make any difference really, or not so much? I intend to reinstall (yes it's been marked for the sake of retaining balance) according to the FSM, but was just curious for the sake of, well, curiosity.

 

[rhah]

“Shouldn’t” I mean it’s been in there for years (assuming) and well your never mad bombing down the highway in 4x4

someone will pipe up and give some technical term of why the shaft is supposed to be bigger on one end or the ujoint is only made to rotate clockwise

but no harm no foul in my books.

 

[60Works]

I've seen them both ways on both shafts on trucks that didn't appear to have been altered since assembly in Japan.

I could see an argument of having the spline end down so water could drain. Early models will have the double cardan at the top.

Will be interesting to hear what others have seen.

 

[dbleon]

Only thing I can think of is that if you flip a shaft with old u-joints, the wear pattern could maybe possibly throw things off a bit

 

[Spook50]

Only thing I can think of is that if you flip a shaft with old u-joints, the wear pattern could maybe possibly throw things off a bit

Yeah it's getting new joints but it made me curious. This shaft was installed last May when I converted to the H55F so hasn't been on my truck for long, and I'm not sure what its orientation was on the truck it came off of.

 

[georgebj60]

Not sure if these are of any help, and maybe you already have these, from the parts microfiches.

 

[hj 60]

Mine were also "wrong" but read somewhere that many dealers have no clue and slap them on without looking.
If you look at how a rock might hit them the factory setup seems most safe and clean.

rear diff fat, front diff slide:

But there is more conflicting FSM so to avoid damage and water/rust do whatever seems best:

 

[OSS]

It doesn't matter. Except that it's easier to lube when it's installed with the slip yoke near the axle. (The officials orientation). I've had it installed for 20 years one direction (backwards) and 10 years the other. Didn't matter except that that one grease zerk is harder get at

 

[Spook50]

Mine were also "wrong" but read somewhere that many dealers have no clue and slap them on without looking.
If you look at how a rock might hit them the factory setup seems most safe and clean.

rear diff fat, front diff slide:

But there is more conflicting FSM so to avoid damage and water/rust do whatever seems best:

Yeah that's what led me to wonder, seeing it like that when I was looking for bolt torque on the flanges. I also noticed I was missing two washers too. I think someone got a little rushed to finish the job and had a couple output flange washers fall off while they were zipping the nuts into place.