Rear drive shaft wobble

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ZPDFJ

ZPDFJ

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Nov 29, 2006
Threads
103
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953
Location
San Diego CA
I was driving in front of a friend today and he pointed out a concern. He said when I pull away from a stop in 1st, my rear drive shaft wobbles significantly. Once I am up and going it does not do this. Now that he has told me I have always felt it but wasn't sure what it was. It produces a significant shuddering. If I am very careful when applying gas and letting go of the clutch I can almost avoid it. I got under the rig and shook the rear DS, there is a lot of play! I am not in the know when it comes to DS issues? I am getting ready to leave for Pismo next week and I wonder if I should be concerned, or if I can fix it easily.:frown:
 
U joints, pinions, loose bolts, warn splines, and the tcase output could all be culprits. Drop the shaft, wiggle the pinion and tcase output. you should have virtually no play. Now see if the splines on the dshaft have any movement side to side... Then the u joints...
 
The majority of the play is where the rear DS connects to the center? DS. Right where the two connect there is a bracket bolts to the crossmember. In the bracket is a rubber bushing that holds the DS's where they meet at the joints. The transfer case output has a very teeny bit of wiggleability. With the way the two (rear and center) DS's connect I cant imagine how it couldn't have a wobble?:hhmm: Do all have this center shaft that connects the rear to the trans?
 
yep

Thats exactly it. I now know yet another car part thanks to you and mud. I have exactly that. I am guessing that is not stock:confused:
 
Yes, that is stock. LWB trucks (Xcab or Longbed) from '84-86 have a carrier bearing on the driveshaft. And they are stupid expensive to replace. Might look for a driveshaft from an '87, it will be one piece.
 
Will the 87' be a plug and play, keep in mind I have about 4-6 inches of lift w/ 35"s.
 
ZPDFJ said:
Will the 87' be a plug and play, keep in mind I have about 4-6 inches of lift w/ 35"s.
Click to expand...

Oh. Well that explains why your carrier bearing wore out. You may have also ruined the slipjoint splines.

Yes, the '87+ driveshaft will bolt right on, but it will also be a little too short with that much lift. It will be fine to drive, but you won't have much spline contact, so they will wear out. I had this problem when I installed my OME springs after doing the SAS, I got a vibration in the driveline that was coming from the splines, my U-joints are still very tight and good. I fixed it by: a) making a plate to move the rear axle 1" forward, and b) running Green Grease in my driveshafts. That stuff is really good.
 
sparticus said:
i run about 5 inches of lift with a one peice on my 4runner and after new ujoints i had no shakes but i would make a spacer for the cv to bolt to or buy one just a 1/2 inch one or so should make it work for you
Click to expand...


shopping list

1. 87 drive shaft
2. new u joints
3. CV spacer (where are these available from)?
Hopefully splines are not worn...
 
ZPDFJ said:
shopping list

1. 87 drive shaft
2. new u joints
3. CV spacer (where are these available from)?
Hopefully splines are not worn...
Click to expand...

you can also have a driveline shop retube your current parts to make a one piece shaft.

Use the tcase end and the slip end and give them the measurements.
 
booo

After I found a DS for $150, I decided to get a new carrier bearing, for about the same price. AAAaaaaand my reman power steering box is leaking bad. This Toyota is the most abused one I have owned and I guess you can say I am learning more with this one that with the others..
 
looks like all you have learned so far is to replace bad parts with the same bad parts.

Gonna eat another carrier bearing soon.

Upgrading is proof of learning.
 
heeeyyy

Thanks for your feedback. I appreciate everyones help. I have to disagree though, despite my decision I learn a lot from MUD, and more when things go wrong.
 
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