After a trip with lotsa rocks, I noticed a clicking sound and occasionally a sqeak coming from the rear DS area. I lubed both of my regualr u-joints and tightened all the bolts holding it in - no change. I then decided to pull out the shaft and grease the CV joint, as you can't get to it when it's on. Got everything unbolted and the slip joint would not compress. I removed the grease fitting on the tube and the grease appears normal inside there.

I put the Jeep on jack stands and let it run (not recommending this) and could see a slight amount of runout where the splines go into the tube. I think I have bent it in the spline area. I am going to try again tonight to pull it and take it to a shop that can straighten/balance/fix it. I could not see any play in the tcase output or pinion.

Any other things to check? Thanks in advance for any help.

Oh, and I have a 99 TJ with a SYE and CV DS on it. And short arms, so jacking up the jeep does little to help get the shaft off.

-Bart

May be a stupid reply, but here goes - too much grease inside the female splined area causing it to "hydrau-lock"?? If you remove the grease fitting on the tube, try pressing it on without the fitting and see if that helps.

Sorry in advance if this is too obvious.

Originally posted by bart
I removed the grease fitting on the tube and the grease appears normal inside there.


I did try that at this point. In a normal situation, the grease should come out around the splines. It was easy to compress the shaft when I put it in a few months ago.

-Bart

Who's driveshaft?

Paul

The shaft was built by a shop in Nashville, TN. It seems to be good quality. The last time I pumped grease into it a few days ago, it just got tight and was not forced out of the splines. Maybe I should keep pumping it in there until it comes out somewhere.

BTW, I did get it out with a pry bar and a hammer. It still will not move and I am in front wheel drive with a locker now :eek: Hope the D30 holds up until I get this fixed. I am taking to it a shop tomorrow.

-Bart

Sounds like it might be grease locked. Do you have a hole in the end of the shaft like shown in this pic? Check to see if it's clogged. When you fill the shaft up with grease and compress it grease should come out of it. When the shaft is extended air is sucked through it. Sometimes a grease solvent (WD40 BP blaster) sprayed on the splines and allowed to soak in good will free up the splines so air can pass by them.
Remember, you don't want the hole in the end of your shaft clogged or you won't be able to extend it. :D
http://home.earthlink.net/~klawlernc/dcp01022.jpg

Originally posted by Recurve
Sounds like it might be grease locked. Do you have a hole in the end of the shaft like shown in this pic? Check to see if it's clogged. When you fill the shaft up with grease and compress it grease should come out of it. When the shaft is extended air is sucked through it. Sometimes a grease solvent (WD40 BP blaster) sprayed on the splines and allowed to soak in good will free up the splines so air can pass by them.
Remember, you don't want the hole in the end of your shaft clogged or you won't be able to extend it. :D
http://home.earthlink.net/~klawlernc/dcp01022.jpg


Yeah, a little hole will hold the entire axle weight it if gets clogged.:confused: :eek:

Tom wood, and other shops have welded this hole shut for years. I always do on my shafts. It forces the grease to get past the splines and ensure they are well lubed. If it's really clogged or rusted splines and was indeed "hydraulicking" it would blow the cap with a hole in it out. (it's pressed in)

Two possible causes: rusted splines (siezed) If a relatively new shaft, it will likely have plastic coated splines so not likely.
could you have got some droop, twisted the end of the splines and then re-compressed the shaft?
I have had both happen to me.

There is a hole in the end of the shaft, but I don't think that is the problem. If there were any hydrolocking, it should have been fixed when I removed the grease fitting.

I took it to work and put it in a big vise (snug on the weld and up against the yoke ear) and me and a guy that works for me (has worked in a T&D shop for years) pounded the crap out of that thing on the opposite yoke to get it to extend. It never got any easier. I think it is bent like you mentioesd, Aggro. BTW, the splines have that blue coating on them.

I took it to a shop yesterday evening and he said I was going to have to replace the upper part (race that the all rides on and that bolts up) of the CV and he thought splined part was just locked up from being dirty. He is going to indicate it and get back with me. I still think it will end up being bent. I am going to put new Spicer joints in it, too.

In the meantime, I am in front wheel drive with a locker - whoooohooooooo!! A new shaft is going to cost me at least $250, right? I think I will try and call Jesse @ www.highangledriveline.com today.

Thanks again for the help.

-Bart

Looks like I am going to bite the bullet and buy a new shaft. I am going to have to replavce the CV on my other one and they still do not know why my splines don't work.

I am going to do a little quick research and buy one tomorrow. I am going to look at Tom Wood's, High Angle, Drivetrain Warehouse (for the warranty), RE($250 advertised price), etc. Any really significant features I should look for? I want Spicer components and a good warranty.

On a similar note, Do you think a CV shaft setup like I have will last well with 20k miles a year on the road, 3-4" lift and a flat skid? Jesse @ High Angle (?) seemed to think that might be too much for a daily driver.


-Bart

Yeah... customer service.

Honestly.. I have heard 50% of one crowd say so and so is good, then the next 50% say the same company sucks. Tom Wood is included in this group. Its not the same people complaing that every drivelinehouse sucks either. It seems to be very hit and miss.

The only company I have only heard positive things about. High Angle.

high angle, I cannot say enuff good things about jesse. you will NOT be sorry.

jess thought that was too much?

I'm runnin 9" on my DD (yj) :D

Originally posted by kidwired

jess thought that was too much?

I'm runnin 9" on my DD (yj) :D
:confused: That's what he said. Basically, I told him it would be equivalent to a 5" lift. He said on a DD, that might be too much. I was really suprised by that.

-Bart

Well.. he could be covering his a$$. Jess is great and all... but he his in a business. He does need to factor in "safety" margins or he won't be in business forever.

Myself, I run a 1350CV, 18.5" long driveline, about 7" of lift, with the driveline running at 23 degrees or so. That is the upper limit of what a CV (at least the 1350) should be operating at static on the road doing 60mph. I haven't had any problems yet, but I do crawl under the jeep and check the joints and CV more often than most since I am operating on the upper end of what it can do.

Bent driveshaft or twisted splines. It doesn't take much.

Well, I ordered my shaft from Jesse today. I am a little concerned about driving around in fr9ont wheel drive as long as it's going to take to get it in, but maybe the 30 will hold up. Jess was good to talk to, I am sure I will be pleased with the product.

Is it any better than any other 1/2 ton Spicer-jointed shaft? I could not tell much difference, but went with Jesse based on the recommendation here and some of the other costomers he has.

-Bart