Front drive shaft ?

[BIGE1966]

i noticed the telescopic part of front drive shaft has side to side slop.is there a replaceable part to repair shaft? did not notice it until i drove a few miles in 2h with hubs still locked in.i went about 35 or 40 mph felt mild vibration.a little education would be great.thanks

 

[wheeler]

I would search to make sure, but I believe your best bet is going to be a "new" front shaft from a junkyard. Nothing wearable to be replaced on the driveshaft, unless maybe a driveshaft shop could replace the splines and make it new again.

 

[Deuling]

Ive heard that all the driving in 2wd for the majority of DD rigs kills the front splines because they are not engaged and putting pressure on the splines so with all the ups and downs and bumps etc of driving will slowly wear the splines out over time. Either can bring it to a driveshaft shop and get it resplined or if ur lucky you can find a good one at a junkyard. My front shaft is like this but im just gonna wait till it fails to get it resplined. Try putting it in 4wd with the hubs locked in, I bet you the vibration goes away. (but dont do it for extended amount of driving on pavement, hard on the driveline)

 

[496truck]

Mine is worn like that too. The male and female splines need to be replaced on the shaft. Probably worth rebuilding the whole unit while it's at the driveshaft shop.

Putting it in 4hi will still spin the shaft. You will still have vibes because the shaft is spinning. I just tried this out recently as it snowed here real good the other day. I ran around in 2wd for the most part with the front hubs locked (shaft was spinning) and it would vibrate at 50 or so. Same when I put it in 4hi.

 

[Deuling]

Hmm. Last winter mine would vibrate if i left the hubs locked, but when I put it in 4 hi the vibs would go away from the pressure put on the splines I assume. Maybe yours is just much more worn out and thats the reason

 

[496truck]

Yeah, my shaft is pretty sloppy.

 

[pblaze725]

I recently had front driveshaft noise / vibrations. I could shake the shaft with my hands and make it rattle.

So I went to the junk yard & pulled one. I figured I might as well change the U joints and I did.
Then I started to check out my old shaft. I saw that there is a zerk fitting on it and I just got a new grease gun so I figured I would test it out.

I started pumping away and the drive shaft started extending at the slip yoke. Finally the yoke popped off because I "Hydrolocked" by putting too much grease in. I couldn't get the yoke back in unless I scooped all the extra grease out.
Then, when I finally got enough grease out to slip the yoke all the way in, there was no more play in it. No rattle, no movement what so ever.
I figure it will do fine for a spare.

The point being your slip yoke might not be ruined, it might only need a little grease (but not too much!)