Rear driveshaft spline [Archive]

Alan11116

11-30-2009, 08:52 AM

OK, so I got the 5" rear springs put in the back over the weekend. The problem is that it exposed some splines in the rear DS. Probably 1.5" roughly. So we spaced the DS down at the carrier with some longer bolts and some nuts bringing the DS down about 1.75" probably. That got the exposed splines to about .75" This is not my ideal fix but it allowed me to drive home with a better feeling. No issues on the way home either. My question is, what is a safe amount of exposed spline? Does anybody know of a "spacer" to use at the carrier to space the DS down? I know it's probably best to lengthen the DS. I know of the place on highway 41 but does anybody know of other places? Anybody had this done and remember what the cost was? Thanks!

hunter4runner

11-30-2009, 09:21 AM

why not a spacer at the t-case?
could this work ? (http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/ForSale/DriveshaftSpacer.shtml#Note3)

Alan11116

11-30-2009, 09:29 AM

that could possibly work. I guess they would mount at the pinion on the diff? It might only be a few dollars more to get the driveshaft lengthened though.

hunter4runner

11-30-2009, 09:39 AM

i think they are ment to mount to the t-case. The point was the be cheaper than a driveshaft lengthening you might want to email RB if its more expensive lol

http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/ForSale/Images/DSspacer4.jpg

Alan11116

11-30-2009, 09:58 AM

OK, I see now. I just wonder what that does for the mounting point at the carrier? It seems like it would push the portion of the driveshaft past where the stock mounting point is. Does that make sense?

link817

11-30-2009, 10:21 AM

Alan11116

11-30-2009, 10:44 AM

you would have to mount it to the pinion flange of the diff. if you got this product. you could look at lowering the carrier. pics? I would also look into getting a proper d-shaft made that is for the rocks w/ heaver wall, etc. I believe i 325 range for a new one, I can't remember the price for a lengthing, under 200 i believe from the place on that you guys suggested for my ubolts.

That made more sense to me too about mounting to the diff. I don't want to spend $325 on a new shaft because then I'd ahve to redo it when another t-case comes into the equation. $200 seems like a lot for lengthening too. Dumb expensive hobby!

benny_wiskas

11-30-2009, 11:23 AM

I talked to Brad the other day and he said Hudlow Axle in Rossville GA will shorten or lengthen for like $50. I know you're not really close to Rossville, but worth a try. I'm pretty sure they balance them too.

Alan11116

11-30-2009, 01:19 PM

and how much is safe to space the carrier bearing down? anybody got a good answer on how much spline is safe to be showing?

hunter4runner

11-30-2009, 07:11 PM

I would think a few inches (under 3) would be ok for the carrier drop, I would say DD you should be ok with the .75 showing, but under torque of wheeling I would say at most 1/4 inch the more showing the less strength the driveshaft will have and more likely it is to shear off the splines

link817

11-30-2009, 08:43 PM

don't quote me on figures.

gregers05

11-30-2009, 09:14 PM

i doubt the that spacer would work at the tcase side since i would(like you mentioned) push the mounting point of the carrier bearing back as well. if you mounted it at the pinion, it seems like that would make the angle of the driveshaft worse as well?

best bet is to get it properly lengthened. from what i have heard its not that much....under 100 bucks from most any driveshaft shop and that may be a little high too.

as for the splines showing, not sure but its obviously better not to have any showing

hunter4runner

11-30-2009, 11:44 PM

wow I totally forgot Tacos had the two piece driveshaft talking about the carrier bearing should have set off an alarm duh yeah your gunna have to lengthen that

Alan11116

12-01-2009, 06:23 AM

I talked to Peps (the macho taco) at All Pro. He said they never even drop the carrier in most situations and there are still tons of spline so I shouldn't have anything to worry about.

gregers05

12-01-2009, 09:29 AM

I talked to Peps (the macho taco) at All Pro. He said they never even drop the carrier in most situations and there are still tons of spline so I shouldn't have anything to worry about.

hmm thats interesting. i know that there are probably at least 3 inches of spline, maybe a little more, so i dont think 1" would be much of an issue for dding anyways. i would be worried about it when wheeling though. im not expert though...as you probably know;)

Alan11116

12-01-2009, 09:38 AM

hmm thats interesting. i know that there are probably at least 3 inches of spline, maybe a little more, so i dont think 1" would be much of an issue for dding anyways. i would be worried about it when wheeling though. im not expert though...as you probably know;)

I also talked to a guy in Ohio who ran those springs and a 1.5" lift shackle and he never had issues either. I've also heard people say that there should be no splines showing.

gregers05

12-01-2009, 09:45 AM

I also talked to a guy in Ohio who ran those springs and a 1.5" lift shackle and he never had issues either. I've also heard people say that there should be no splines showing.

yeah idk. i think you should get a custom one piece shaft made and then donate your carrier bearing and rear part of the driveshaft to me for a spare:D

STOMPER

12-01-2009, 08:38 PM

I talked to Peps (the macho taco) at All Pro.

What does he know he's got a 2wd low rider, :flipoff4:

No really he has one of the baddest Taco's out there.

Alan11116

12-02-2009, 02:26 PM

Does anybody happen to know the actual length of the splines? I really don't want to deal with the shaft seperating.

04 Rocko Taco

12-02-2009, 05:50 PM

C'mon, just crawl under there, and pull that shaft apart and find out. :)

gregers05

12-02-2009, 09:21 PM

Does anybody happen to know the actual length of the splines? I really don't want to deal with the shaft seperating.

ill let you know this weekend when i replace my ujoint and carrier bearing

gregers05

12-05-2009, 10:16 PM

alan took apart my ds today and i only have about an inch and a half of splines that are visible.

if yours is the same as mine, which i imagine it is, you dont have much room to spare at all

snapped a pic for you:
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i199/gregers05/random%20pic/P1010622.jpg

link817

12-06-2009, 08:27 AM

thats the same length of spline as the front stock driveshaft.

gregers05

12-06-2009, 01:25 PM

thats the same length of spline as the front stock driveshaft.

thats kinda sad.

there is more spline that goes up into the driveshaft probably another 2 inches or so. but since alan has splines showing this is the part that he is seeing, which isnt much

Alan11116

12-08-2009, 06:44 AM

Well, Pepe at All Pro keeps assuring me that I will be fine so I'll take his word for it. I should try to flex it out somewhere before getting on the trails and make sure everything is good. Although, putting the springs on, the springs were pretty stretched out and the shackles was pulled forward towards the front of the truck and the DS was still together. I don't know how accurate that will be in a trail situation though.

4inT100

12-08-2009, 07:12 AM

Just get the hi-lift out and jack the thing up. If it falls out, you know what to do. Should take you like 30 minutes?

Alan11116

12-08-2009, 07:48 AM

Just get the hi-lift out and jack the thing up. If it falls out, you know what to do. Should take you like 30 minutes?

Yeah, problem is my hi lift is not fully functional right now.

4inT100

12-08-2009, 07:50 AM

HA, if you're that hard pressed I'll bring mine to work tomorrow and you can borrow it. Geez, kids these days. Trying to get someone else to do all their work ;)

Alan11116

12-30-2009, 04:59 PM

So, I got that .75" DS spacer from Roger Brown. It obviously is made for the t-case side of the DS because it won't fit the hole pattern at the pinion. I guess he thinks everybody has a 1 piece driveshaft otherwise this design is worthless. I pulled the DS apart and there are 1.75" of visible spline on the slip yoke to mate to the front portion of the DS. At ride height I have 1" of spline showing. Would it be an awful idea to get some grade 8 bolts and washers and put between the pinion and slip yoke to space it about .75" to get about .25" of actual spline showing? This would be the same idea as a spacer only using washers and it's the same thing guys do to space the carrier bearing down.

TRoss

12-30-2009, 05:17 PM

If I'm understanding you right, NO, I would not do that.

Your talking about spacing the drive shaft flange away from the t-case flange with washers between the two, on the four attachment bolts? NO do not do that. I wouldn't trust it as far as I could pick up and throw James. :p

I assume the RB spacer is a billet aluminum piece that has nice flat mounting surfaces that are parallel to each other? If so... that's a clue right there.

...or maybe I'm missing the boat? I'd draw a picture but my wife took away my crayons.

link817

12-30-2009, 06:00 PM

your going to turn this into a mud truck aren't you alan:shame: just get the drive shaft lengthened properly.

Alan11116

12-31-2009, 06:40 AM

I'm going to put the spacer in at the carrier bearing. I totally forgot about that option. I just had the picture in my head from Roger Brown about putting it at the t-case which won't work.

gregers05

12-31-2009, 03:06 PM

your going to turn this into a mud truck aren't you alan:shame: just get the drive shaft lengthened properly.

:lmao:

I'm going to put the spacer in at the carrier bearing. I totally forgot about that option. I just had the picture in my head from Roger Brown about putting it at the t-case which won't work.

cool glad it works for ya!

Alan11116

12-31-2009, 03:58 PM

:lmao:

cool glad it works for ya!

it doesn't work at the carrier either. 1/4" difference in the hole pattern all the way around. I say again, this is a dumb design unless you have a 1 piece driveshaft.