Local Source for DC drive shafts (1 Viewer)

[Lugboot]

Hey, thought I'd try to do my research early as insurance. I'm getting down to the wire with my caster correction project (I'd have a lot more time if I didn't have to work) and I'd like to know I could source a DC front driveshaft locally in a short time frame if I need to. We're leaving on a trip next Wednesday so if I need to replace the front drive shaft after the truck's back together, it of course will be last minute.

I may or may not need to do this--all depends on whether I have driveline vibrations after I reassmble the truck. If I do have vibrations, I'd like to replace the front shaft before going on a 4-hour roadtrip fully loaded and towing a pop-up camper.

So, anyone have information on a local shop that could do a front DC drive shaft for an 80-series cruiser if need be?

Thanks!

Brett

 

[Wayneraintree]

Might be cheapest to find a DC from a boneyard and let a speedshop put it together with your old shaft.... DC are in minitrucks I know.....

 

[Lugboot]

how about quickest, even if it costs slightly more?

 

[mls57jax]

DC driveshaft? I'm clusless! WTF is a DC driveshaft???
Mike in PA
(feeling stupid already...)

 

[mls57jax]

Never mind. I figured it out all by myself...right after I hit 'send' on the previous post!!!
Mike in PA
PS My 40 don't need no stinkin DC drivehaft anyway, so there. ;~)

 

[CJBury]

Ok, for the rest of us what is a DC drive shaft? I more than likely have one.

 

[Lugboot]

Sorry guys! DC is Double Cardan. Instead of a single u-joint on either end of the drive shaft, a DC shaft has a double u-joint on one end and a single on the other end. It's used to decrease/eliminate drivetrain vibes on lifted trucks.

One can be made out of an existing shaft by replacing one of the single u-joints with a double.

or, it's a driveshaft that was stolen off a truck in DC and sold to you cheap.

Brett

 

[CJBury]

O.K. I don't have one. I Need one. Thanks for the info.

 

[Wayneraintree]

Gary S. likely has one if needed... But Brett, if you "caster corrected", why would the "corrected" driveline angle need a DC or have vibrations?

and Mike, if you don't need one, you don't need to know what one is : ) your posts crack me up!

 

[Lugboot]

i'm not so much correcting the driveline angle as the orientation of the axle to get me back within caster specs for the truck so it tracks better at highway speeds. A side effect of this, depending on the amount of lift, is driveline vibes with the stock driveshaft because of driveline angle. I hope I don't have enough lift to make it an issue, but i guess we'll see.

 

[Wayneraintree]

is your caster 5-7 degrees with the correction? If so, you should be golden....

 

[CJBury]

I may be wrong, as I usually am, I think that 5-7 is too much for the 80.

 

[Klunky Chris]

no such thing as *too much* caster!!!!
(says Chris with the 6 deg shims...)

as for stock though, I think 3 deg is factory

 

[zucruisers]

there was a couple of them in 85 minitrucks at harry's u pull it up in hazleton about a month ago i think, along with the front axle housing, knuckles, and birfs

 

[Blue77FJ40]

My FSM shows +1 is stock for 77 fj40. But Chris is right. More is better says I with 4° shim on 4" SUA lift. Apparently, Toyota didn't know that then.

 

[Lugboot]

is your caster 5-7 degrees with the correction? If so, you should be golden....

I should find out today after the wheels get put back on and I can get an alignment.

I may be wrong, as I usually am, I think that 5-7 is too much for the 80.

According to Toyota, it is, but it's a lot better than too little caster!

no such thing as *too much* caster!!!!
(says Chris with the 6 deg shims...)

as for stock though, I think 3 deg is factory

Yep--stock range is 2-4*. I'm doing 7* of correction just to try to hit the high end of stock. Tells you how far out of whack my caster was. Down in the negatives.

there was a couple of them in 85 minitrucks at harry's u pull it up in hazleton about a month ago i think, along with the front axle housing, knuckles, and birfs

Thanks for the info--I'm hoping I won't need it!!

 

[Klunky Chris]

I should find out today after the wheels get put back on and I can get an alignment.

get your laser allignment at Weaver tire in Shippensburg here. Good honest folk that will work with you on what your trying to do!
not overpriced, and no attitude about "don't tell me how to allign a vehicle...."

Also, they'll give you a print out of your entire truck if you ask, front and rear.

GOOD LUCK! (I need to figure this out myself as I still haven't done the 80...)

 

[Lugboot]

Wish me luck--about to go drive it . . . .

 

[OGBeno]

If you want a DC fast, the best way is to just call Slee up and it'll be on your doorstep in a couple of days--and it is made for the 80 series as opposed to sourcing one, measuring your situation, then having one made--pricewise--it'll come out mostly the same.

-o-

 

[Lugboot]

If you want a DC fast, the best way is to just call Slee up and it'll be on your doorstep in a couple of days--and it is made for the 80 series as opposed to sourcing one, measuring your situation, then having one made--pricewise--it'll come out mostly the same.

-o-

Thanks Beno--Slee was my back-pocket fall-back resource!

Drove it all weekend and there are a few very minor drivetrain vibrations here and there but nothing horrific. Barely noticeable, so much so that my wife hasn't even mentioned anything. Can hit 70-75 on the highway with no issues. It's getting aligned today so we'll see what the caster numbers are now.