Hi all, I recently got a 73 d200 with extended cab. I'm fairly new to trucks.

It makes a clanking sound when dropped in gear, which sounds to me like a U joint. I crawled underneath expecting to see a regular driveshaft, but this one has a front then a center carrier then another in the back.

Can you all tell me what's involved if I want to service/refresh the entire thing -- from trans to the rear end? How many U joints are in there?

Do people ever convert to a single long driveshaft and do away with the center carrier? I'm sure there's a good reason they made 2 piece, I just don't know what it is.

Thanks from a truck newbie.