Replace u-joints or buy Slee's double cardon FR & RR driveshafts

[cc93cruiser]

I was about to replace my 4 u-joints ( front and rear driveshaft u-joints) when I thought maybe it would be better just to replace the front and rear driveshafts with slee's double cardan driveshafts since my cruiser already has a mild lift 2.5"s. Is a 2.5 lift too small of a lift to run these double cardan driveshafts, or these driveshafts will work with any lift or stock height ( I am asking because I know these double cardan 'shafts or basically mandatory for extreme lifts-5.5"s and up)? Has anybody even experinced any drivetrain vibes with a 2.5-3" lift? Anybody have these driveshafts?

http://www.80series.com/products/products_drivetrain_main.htm

 

[firetruck41]

If you don't need new shafts, U joints are ~$40 each. So if you need 4(?) U joints it's $160, both Slee drive shafts will set you back $740. Are you having vibration problems since it was lifted?

 

[Safado]

You don't need them...plus it's not just plug and play. You have the extra expense of pointing the pinions up to the x-fer case.

 

[NorCalDoug]

I've never had a driveline vibration issue due to lift. I currently have OME heavy 2.5 spings/shocks.
My main deciding factor, if I were you, would be cost and/or future plans.

If I had definite plans for upgrading in the next year or two, I might spring for the double-cardan sharfts rather than replacing U-joints. If a BIG lift is unlikely, I'd do the U-joints.

Why are you replacing your U-joints? When I had my driveshaft retubed, the guy at the shop commented on how good my U-joints looked and how Toyota used very good U-joints that "last forever"...

 

[Big_Moose]

I second Doug's info - and most Driveline shops can rebuild the U-joints for minimal cost / or new replacement joints as mentioned

 

[cc93cruiser]

Well, I haven't felt any vibes personally, but I am kinda sure the U joints need to be replaced. When I am going down the road sometimes with the tranny downshifting or upshifting, I feel a very tiny bump when it goes into gear, I don't know maybe I am being too over cautious . I just hate taking my drivshaft/s to the shop to get the new old ones out and the new ones in. Do you guys know how much the Toyota ones cost? Also they are a universal fit right, I don't have to specify for front or rear? Thanks for all the help.

 

[Darwood]

The bump you feel is most likely not from your drive shaft. It is more likely from the ring and pinion and or the transmission itself. I'm sure others can chime in on the more likely cause.

 

[NorCalDoug]

I've heard of several different things being the cause of the "clunk" most of our 80s have. The general opinion is that it's "normal" and that one should live with it.

Someone just posted a thread today about messing with his driveshaft and reducing the driveline slop a bit.

 

[Darwood]

I should have stated that the slop probably isn't from the U joints in the drive shaft. It could be, as Doug alluded to, the drive shaft splines. They do need grease now and then to get rid of some of the slop that can develop.

One thing I have noticed, while playing around under my truck, is that there just seems to be a lot of slop. If I try to turn the drive shaft by hand it will rotate a bit even when in park with the ebrake on. This means that there is slop at both the transfer case side and respectively at the the diff side. It's easy to imagine that this would produce a nice clunk in the right situations.

 

[gregc]

U-joints are a part that most people wait to replace 'til they're going....they have a variable lifespan depending on how you drive the truck and how they're maintained.

When a u-joint is going, you will KNOW it. The truck will have a big, shake-your-seat vibration and noise.

That would be a good time to replace u-joints.

Otherwise, you're replacing a part that probably has a decent amount of life left. I replaced all of my u-joints a couple months ago (front-front was the bad one, and I KNOW they weren't well-maintained by the PO)

If you WANT the double-cardans, don't let me stop you, but it sounds like you don't NEED them at this point. There are people who have trouble with dc shafts too; they're a more complex joint than your good ol' U-joint.

You may be able to find something else in Slee's catalog to relieve the pressure in your wallet...if not, I'd be happy to help you there ::

G

 

[HZJ60 Guy]

It's always easy to spend other peoples money. That said if this is going to continue to happen you should buy Slee-mans drive lines.

Kill this problem now.



TB