Grenaded front drive shaft! What happened?

[porkchop]

Well I finally put my front driveshaft back on. I started to back out of the drive way and all sounded good until I started to turn the wheel. I then heard a clunk, clunk, clunk. It sounded like the drive shaft was binding on itself. I parked it where it was until the next day. I went out and went to move it closer to the garage and it made one clunk and then it was smooth as could be. I figured it must be to steep of an angle from the SOA. I figured I would go ahead I try to add a shim and see if it would help. One thing lead to another and I ended up grinding off the spring pads and re-welding them. I went out there this afternoon and put the front axle back in (took me 1 hour and 30 minutes by myself http://www.ifsja.org/ubb/biggrin.gif). Just as I was going to hook up the front driveshaft I noticed that the u-joint closest to the t-case on the had disenegrated! It was only held on by one bearing.

What happened to cause this? Is it true that my angle is to steep? If so how do I correct this? I greased everything before install.

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'67/'79 Wagoneer mix
“Old Timer”
Check it out! (http://members.fortunecity.com/porkchopsfsj)

"I have a dream that one day FSJ's will be equal at every parts store."

[BIGYELLOW78J10]

Hey Porkchop,
Sorry bout this. Man that blows. To me it sounds like the centering bearing in the CV joint went out. This could be due to somewhere way back down the line, a PO didn't lube it right and it wore wrong, and just now gave it up. The SOA probably put more force than usual and didn't help a bit. Now your options are to find a shaft out of the bone yard or rebuild your shaft. If the haft were just noisy, the rebuild might only include a new centering bearing, but it sounds bad with lots of potential stuff broken. To rebuild your shaft, the destroyed CV joint will be cut off and a new one welded on. It will likely cost you around $200, unless you have a good friend at a good driveline shop. I had my shaft done up this way after the centering bearing broke and gored my CV. I don't really know of any other options once the CV has gotten this bad, but you were a lucky one. And congratulations on the awesome axle times. Could you come over here and train me to be an awesome wrench too!?!?! I'm hoping for the best for you, but be prepared.

Daniel Toon

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78 J-10 Rumblin Wreck (http://www.prism.gatech.edu/~gte644i/TRUCK.jpg)
2v 360 V-8
Stock down to the rust
Highway speed in about an Hour

[mhoffor]

I had some driveline work done at a shop in front of Reliable Wrecker off of Hwy 95, they custome built a shaft for a mazda that I put a datsun moter in, it cost about $120 but that was a few years ago.

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Mike Hoff
74 J10
360 Edelbrock Carb
TH400 w/shift kit
Headman Headers 3" pipes w/flomasters
Spring over front 8" net lift
Shackel flip w/2 1/2 steel blocks rear 7" net lift

[fulmetal]

Hey PC I feel your pain!!!!!! I went throught all of this when I did my SOA. The way that I fixed the problem was I went to Woods Custom Drive Shafts and had them make there extreme angle Double cardan joint. I then had to add limmiting staps to keep the shaft from binding at extreme drop. I hope this helps
Go to a shop and the good ones can rebuild just the Cardan joint at lessthe cost than a whole new one. What will also work,dissamble the old one then take a burr and relieve the boddy to get a few more deg out of it. Hey I have a great idea I have my old one already relieved I can send you it might not be in perfect shape but with a few dollars in seals it would be as good as new (maybee we could trade for the axles http://www.ifsja.org/ubb/smile.gifLet me know what you think the old one is just collecting dust out here. Good lick

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84 Grand Wag
360, soa, headers,
33 bfg,on board welder,air
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=187566&a=7042531&p=23652635

[porkchop]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by fulmetal:
I then had to add limmiting staps to keep the shaft from binding at extreme drop.

How did you add the STRAPS?

What will also work,dissamble the old one then take a burr and relieve the boddy to get a few more deg out of it.

How do you accomplich this? I thought these things were impossible to take apart.

Hey I have a great idea I have my old one already relieved I can send you it might not be in perfect shape but with a few dollars in seals it would be as good as new (maybee we could trade for the axles http://www.ifsja.org/ubb/smile.gifLet me know what you think the old one is just collecting dust out here. Good lick

I might just consider this. I will get back with you after I try to figure out what you "relieve". You don't have a part time sitting around do you? I really need one of those because that would help with the angles.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


In any case I will try to send those axles with Todd when he goes to Salton in March. I am unable to make it since my wife is on bed rest and now I do not have 4 wheel capabilities http://www.ifsja.org/ubb/frown.gif Will this work for you?


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'67/'79 Wagoneer mix
“Old Timer”
Check it out! (http://members.fortunecity.com/porkchopsfsj)

"I have a dream that one day FSJ's will be equal at every parts store."

[fulmetal]

PC I will get some pics posted when I get home tommorow.

The cardan joints are actually three parts and I was told the Drive shaft guys have the market on selling the replacement parts. When I had my shafts modified he replaced just the seals and did not charge me. Good deal, He said that he had to seperate the cardan anyway to lenghten it. I am sure if you had a press of some kind it will coe apart, after all we have accomplished on our rigs I find it hard that we can screw it up anymore than it already is.


I will tell you what E-mail me you adress and I will send you the spare shaft( I almost threw it out last weekend anyway)

Good luck with your quest, You do need that part-time kit to take the strain off of the shaft

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84 Grand Wag
360, soa, headers,
33 bfg,on board welder,air
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=187566&a=7042531&p=23652635

[porkchop]

Cool, Thanks. I can not wait to see the pics. I emailed my address to you.

Thanks again.
Bryant

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'67/'79 Wagoneer mix
“Old Timer”
Check it out! (http://members.fortunecity.com/porkchopsfsj)

"I have a dream that one day FSJ's will be equal at every parts store."

[River Beast]

Bryant....GOOD NEWS!!!!
Thanks to a member on the Forum (THANKS DAVE), I did some research and found and adapter kit that converts from a QT to a D18/D20 T-case!!!
http://www.novak-adapt.com/

the only problem you will have is getting the proper mating gear since yours came off a standard tranny. Check it out!!!

Talk to Jesse... He's got a disassembled D20

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Todd
78 Wagoneer, "River Beast"
360/TH400/QT
Dana 44's locked w/ 4.89's
39.50x15x15 Super Swamper TSL's
7" SOA in front-7" Rear Shackle Inversion Mods
4" Skyjacker Softride
3" Trailmaster Bodylift
My FSJ site: http://www.geocities.com/spazz4life (http://www.geocities.com/spazz4life)
My E-mail: monster_fsj@hotmail.com
"If you can't stop...SMILE as you go under!"

'93 3/4 ton 4x4 Suburban...a.k.a. "FSJ Hauler"

[porkchop]

Yeah that is the same one that I was bidding on on ebay but was out bid. $495 is a little to pricey for me but I may end up doing it if I can get rid of some of these extra parts I have in the garage and the back yard http://www.ifsja.org/ubb/biggrin.gif I need tires, gears, exhaust, and paint first. Thanks for the info, Todd. I put it in my favorites just in case.

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'67/'79 Wagoneer mix
“Old Timer”
Check it out! (http://members.fortunecity.com/porkchopsfsj)

"I have a dream that one day FSJ's will be equal at every parts store."

[fulmetal]

Here are the pics of the straps that I put on the front. Hope this helps
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=187566&a=7042530



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84 Grand Wag
360, soa, headers,
33 bfg,on board welder,air
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=187566&a=7042531&p=23652635