I have lots of rotational free play in my drive shaft. Not in u-joints or splines. At the transfer case end. It must have been discussed here before but I cannot find any thread about it. I guess I suck at the use of the search function. Any help?
drive shaft free play (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter computerbookstore
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
define... 'lots'?
Drivelines have slack. There are lots of interfaces. You will most likely feel more in the front than the rear.
- Thread starter
- #5
The free play is about 15 degrees. As jonheld says it is a bit less in the rear than the front.
I suspect you guys will say that it is 15 degrees is normal but when I bought the truck 40,000 miles earlier it did not have any noticeable free play at the drive shaft. Now the truck has 175,000 miles.
Can the free play be caused by frequent parking on a steep slope without using parking brake (only gear box at Park)?
I suspect you guys will say that it is 15 degrees is normal but when I bought the truck 40,000 miles earlier it did not have any noticeable free play at the drive shaft. Now the truck has 175,000 miles.
Can the free play be caused by frequent parking on a steep slope without using parking brake (only gear box at Park)?
I wouldn't think so, but it can eventually break your parking pawl inside the tranny, which is spendy/time consuming to replace, not to mention the dangers of having your rig fly down a hill with nobody inside.
- Joined
- Jul 20, 2004
- Threads
- 274
- Messages
- 23,233
- Location
- Chandler, AZ
- Website
- www.tontorecreationalliance.org
How many broken pawls have you seen on Toyotas? I don't recall ever seeing one, except after big accidents and the pawl is the least of the worries on a totaled rig. I use both, but would rate the likelihood of of the "rig fly down a hill with nobody inside" much higher with only the parking brake, compared to close to zero when in park.
Component wear (if any) is much less when parked, most happens when the parts are turning. All moving connections wear, so the accumulated play increases with miles. The front axle has more play because it has more parts, slight wear at each part adds up.
In my experience the biggest contributor is diff preload, over the miles the diff bearings wear reducing preload. This allows more gear backlash, play, weakening the setup. It can be readjusted, best done at axle service time.
Zuk's pages on the subject, they are Mini/Taco diffs. The 80 diffs are similar, accept the rear locked version, it's shimmed the theory is the same, but adjusted by shims;
carrier bearing pre-load
gear install
Check how much wear is in the front C/V joint flange plates, the splines in the shaft and plates can cause ex play, also the centre diff wears causing play, I have converted to part time 4wd, removing the centre diff and fitted freewheeling hubs to the front.
I used this kit LCruiser 80/100 Series
I used this kit LCruiser 80/100 Series
