Follow Up Drive Shaft Question
#1782019
03/17/15 05:23 PM
03/17/15 05:23 PM
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 137 Kentucky, USA
RoadrunnerCN
OP
member
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OP
member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 137
Kentucky, USA
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A while back I asked the standard length of a drift shaft for a 1970 Plymouth Satellite with a 318 and a 904 torqueflight tranny. I was given 55.47" The weather has been rotten (till now) and a lot has happened this past fall (Mom passed away) so I'm just getting back to trying to replace my drive shaft. Since the weather has improved, I rolled my car out of the garage last evening to measure the shaft. It always looked about an inch and a half too short. It drives fine like this, but I know it isn't right and I don't get on it because of this. I'd like it to be right. I measured the length and it was 55.5, which surprised me. See the attachment. You can see that about 2.5 inches of the slip yoke is showing and that's too much. I'm assuming it should only be about an inch. Given that the shaft measures 55.5 inches from the centerline of the front u joint cup to the centerline of the rear U joint cup...and given that the called for length is 55.47", I was thinking, "Well, maybe I have the correct drive shaft..but that can't be given that too much of the slip yoke is showing and not enough is in the tranny. So, my uneducated question is, "Can I assume, based on my measurements and the picture, that I can tell Cincinnati Drive Line (I'm close to them) to make a drive shaft that is 57" (an inch and a half longer than current)?" Or, am I missing something? I probably am. I'm not good at this part of the repair...still learning. Thoughts? Thanks.
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Re: Follow Up Drive Shaft Question
[Re: RoadrunnerCN]
#1782020
03/17/15 05:50 PM
03/17/15 05:50 PM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,040 Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert
Circle Track
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Circle Track
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,040
Lincoln Nebraska
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stands under the rear axle/not the rear subframes so the springs/axle is loaded (& you have room to work). Front jacked up roughtly the same amount. unbolt rear ujoint. shove the yoke in all the way in the trans. measure C to C. subtract 3/4". give that dimention to the shop. That yoke ain't in far enough. Mine was not that far out & I had a part time vibration problem
live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
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Re: Follow Up Drive Shaft Question
[Re: RapidRobert]
#1782021
03/17/15 06:43 PM
03/17/15 06:43 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,562 Freeport IL USA
poorboy
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,562
Freeport IL USA
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I'm looking at the picture of his drive shaft, and see there are several "clean" places on the yoke. That would indicate to me that drive haft often runs much farther inside the trans then the current picture shows. My concern is if you have a new shaft made, (they can't add to your existing shaft) it will bottom out at some point, and that would be as bad (or worst) then not being in far enough. When your picture was taken, how are you lifting the car? If you are unloading the rear suspension, you are not getting a true picture of where your drive shaft is normally riding. If you are jacking up the body and the rear axle is hanging, that may be as far as the shaft comes out of the trans, and that would be OK (unless your offroading and lifting the rear tires off the ground a lot.) Disconnect the drive shaft at the rear axle, and push the driveshaft into the trans until you can't see the "clean" part anymore, and measure how far that is from bottoming. Then get back to us. Gene
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Re: Follow Up Drive Shaft Question
[Re: poorboy]
#1782022
03/18/15 01:09 AM
03/18/15 01:09 AM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,040 Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert
Circle Track
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Circle Track
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,040
Lincoln Nebraska
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that shaft (or at least the yoke) has recently been somewhere else (shiney/no rust). When I had my part time vibration problem the driveshaft shop said they could not lengthen it (but can cut one down) so I luckily I sourced another one ~1" longer in my stash & swapped ujoints/yoke & all good
live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
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Re: Follow Up Drive Shaft Question
[Re: RoadrunnerCN]
#1782024
03/18/15 11:24 AM
03/18/15 11:24 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,078 Benton, IL.
DaveRS23
Special needs idiot
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Special needs idiot
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,078
Benton, IL.
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That would look a lot different if the rear seal had the boot on it. It probably had one in the past. Which could account for the clean areas on the yoke, too. Personally, if there is no vibration issue, I would just drive it. A 318 and (assuming) street tires will not put a large load on the drive train.
Master, again and still
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Re: Follow Up Drive Shaft Question
[Re: RoadrunnerCN]
#1782029
03/18/15 05:03 PM
03/18/15 05:03 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 25,796 Rio Linda, CA
John_Kunkel
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 25,796
Rio Linda, CA
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The factory slip yoke dimension is 3 5/8" from the rear of the tailhousing to the center of the u-joint.
The INTERNET, the MISinformation superhighway
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