Rear Prop Shaft

[Jim_Phillips]

A while a go I fitted new springs. One side effect was a vibration in the rear prop which was diagnosed (here) as possibly being UJ related. I have had new UJs fitted.

When I went to collect the vehicle today, the mechanic told me they had a very hard time removing and replacing the prop shaft as it was wedged in tight and would not compress.
He thinks that the springs are wrong.

I have another theory, which is that I may have caused the problem when greasing the prop (in an attempt to cure the UJ problem). There is a grease nipple on the side of the prop for greasing the joint (where it moves/comes apart) I was pumping grease in this side nipple when I noticed that with each pump of the grease gun the prop was extending - pretty much like a hydraulic ram. So my theory is that I have pumped too much grease into the prop causing it to extend and be unable to compress.

I explained this to the mechanic and he pretty much refused to remove the prop because of the hard time thay had had getting it back in place. I now have a problem in that I can't remove the prop shaft (due to it being wedged in so tight) to get the grease out.

Any ideas? Would it help if I removed the side grease nipple? - would the grease come out under its own pressure?

Thanks, Jim

 

[overhanger]

Jim,
Your theory is correct and removing the side zerk fitting will release any pressure the slip yoke is under. This will allow you to compress the driveshaft for easy removal. That the "mechanic" at the shop you had work done apparantly didn't know this is a little scary.

 

[Jman]

When I removed my rear prop shaft this past spring, we had to remove the grease nipple (zirk fitting) and compress the shaft--some grease squeezed out (I think "spooged out" is the technical term ). That still was not enough, so while it was up on the lift, we put a tranny jack under the rear diff and jacked up the back axle--the lift springs compressed, the rear axle moved back a smidgen, and that gave us enough room to drop the shaft.

Of course, if you're on a lift, BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN JACKING THE REAR AXLE UP--it would really suck to have the cruiser shift and then fall off the lift. Especially if you're underneath it at the time. Same thing if you have it on jack stands--make sure you don't crank it enough to slip off.

Good luck.

 

[dogboy2]

bingo! you nailed it....putting too much grease into the slip joint makes for one extremely difficult driveshaft reinstall once removed...

bleeding off the excess grease through the nipple port should give you enough relief to remove the driveshaft from the truck again - once off, you can manually remove any additional grease by hand, rag, etc....

been there, done that,
-dogboy- '87 FJ60

 

[Jim_Phillips]

Thanks. Did it - it worked!