Do you really need a CV style front driveshaft?

[pilate74]

Hello everyone. Does the front yoke on a np203 spin when it is in 2wd (with the conversion kit?). my front driveshaft is shot and I was going to order a new one from tom woods. I really do not want the cv style shaft. I think I could get away with a plain driveshaft if the thing did not spin in 2wd. I live in west Texas and never use 4hi. My rig is a stock 73 Blazer 350/350/203 dana 44/12 bolt gov bomb. I have a rockcrawler Jeep so I dont need to upggrade this truck for rockcrawling. It is going to be my tow rig when I find me a 4 cyl cummins to swap in. I will upload pics as soon as I get my 15 posts.

 

[kgblazerfive]

You don't need one but it can't hurt to have it I guess it would depend on the price difference.

 

[bp71k5]

You can run a standard shaft as long as the joints don't bind. Usually the front shaft is so short that the joints bind at the most extreme suspension cycles, but if you don't have a huge lift or super short shaft, it can work. Some people here even run homebuilt square driveshafts with different single joints.

 

[Blue85]

The C/V joint doesn't help you with the angle. You can get more angle from a standard U-joint. The C/V is there to eliminate the vibration. If you are never at high speed in 4WD, then it doesn't matter so much. A stock 203 will spin the front driveshaft all the time, as will non-lock-out hubs (i.e. drive flanges).

Have you considered rebuilding the stock shaft or another one like it? I find the C/V joint to be pretty durable and that the slip yokes go out first.

 

[pilate74]

The C/V joint doesn't help you with the angle. You can get more angle from a standard U-joint. The C/V is there to eliminate the vibration. If you are never at high speed in 4WD, then it doesn't matter so much. A stock 203 will spin the front driveshaft all the time, as will non-lock-out hubs (i.e. drive flanges).

Have you considered rebuilding the stock shaft or another one like it? I find the C/V joint to be pretty durable and that the slip yokes go out first.

will a mile marker kit stop the yoke from spinning in 2hi? My shaft is toast due to the previous owner driving the the truck with busted u joints. They almost wore through the metal yokes. I

 

[YZEATER]

will a mile marker kit stop the yoke from spinning in 2hi? My shaft is toast due to the previous owner driving the the truck with busted u joints. They almost wore through the metal yokes. I

yes, the part time kit will stop the shaft from spinning in 2 hi.