Driveshaft length question. Too long?

[tangouniform]

I installed a 4" lift on my '88 K5 which led to my driveshaft being angled basically to the sky. I marked where it was, then I disconnected the U-joint bolts and slid it all the way forward, and measured the difference. It came to almost 3", so I subtracted .5" for slop and took it to my local shop to get it lengthened. Well I either measured wrong, or they lengthened too much, because I had a lot of trouble getting it in. It was almost too perfect a length where I had to jack up the truck slightly to get the u-bolts to fit in the rear-end. Is this normal or should there be a little more fore-aft movement where I should be able to slide the DS full forward, then back to install?

If the DS is a hair too long, what's the worst that could happen? Would it put too much pressure potentially on the TC output shaft when the suspension is loaded?

 

[sweetk30]

break the t-case or adapter or back of the trans off .

and 4" lift on a k5 blazer should almost always get a C/V style drive shaft for the rear . the wheel base is so short and angles get mixed up much faster its best to do the C/V shaft option from the start .

 

[tangouniform]

The angle looks much better with the longer DS installed and the noise I heard on decel is no longer there. But, if I unbolted the u-joint brackets and slid the DS forward, I might have 1/4" of movement total and I'm just unsure what the ideal amount is.

 

[centexk5]

Mine slides an inch or more as the suspension cycles.

 

[Wes Harden]

Yes a 1/4" is not enough movement My preference would be @ 1.5" possibly 2" if supper flexy suspension