The driveshaft on my 96 Dakota "wobbles" for lack of a better word. I had it up on jacks the other day and it was running when I saw this. I drew a line around the shaft at the center point and it is out about 1/8" when I turn it. I am having a problem with fluid getting past the new output seal.

Is this driveshaft out a lot and would this cause it to leak around the seal.

Thanks, EVERYONE looks at this forum as opposed to the truck section.

I should have mentioned that it is a 4x4 and the output shaft is from the 231d transfer case.

sorry

I think what I said holds true in this case?
Look at this, I believe #41 is the bushing that supports the drive shaft?

web page

It's a common problem from looking at the pictures, that's why all those conversions are sold to convert it to a yoke output.

OK, I will look into it. How about the wobble, or do you think that is the bushing?

Thanks

I ain't a truck guy so I am just WAG ing. I'd have the shaft balance checked while you are taking care of the bushing unless someone with more knowledge regarding this says that that ain't needed at the moment but I would not want to fix the bushing then put an out of balance shaft back in there but from the amount of wobble you reported I'd be thinking bushing also unless a ujoint is fubared

OK, then. I found a Jeep thread that talked about removing the bushing and even had a vendor and part number listed. Since I already had a tailshaft with the bushing installed I decided to see if I could whack it out as per the thread. It worked so I ordered a new bushing and we'll see what happens in a week when I can get everything together. I have new U joints but I'm sure the driveshaft will have to be looked at.

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f37/np231-tail-shaft-leak-fix-82091/

Thanks Gary

OK, so my junk yard driveshaft had a dent in it and it threw it out of whack. It didn't really stand out and was more like a crease from a forklift. I had a new driveshaft made. The whole reason that I started this thread was because I had a leak that I couldn't isolate so I checked the driveshaft. The issue of the bushing came up and after 3 weeks and 3 attempts I finally got my new bushing today.

It turns out that my leak/gush was from the fact that the slip yoke didn't have the plug in the back of it. I didn't know that it was even there, or in this case not there.

Got the driveshaft in and no more leaks. The bushing will have to go in this weekend.

Thanks