Hello All,

I've replaced 3 spider bearings in the last few years (2wd Auto). Each time I put the drive shaft assembly back in, the slip yoke wouldn't "slip" on very easily.

I have started to feel the u-joint/spider bearing going bad again, however my concern is not with the u-joint but what is making the u-joints fail so quickly.

I got under the truck and tried to pull the drive shaft out to be serviced, but this time it seemed to be ceased on the slip yoke/ output shaft. Is this lack of slippage between the output and yoke been causing the u-joints to take improper forces and fail?

After the spider bearing replacements, the vibration totally goes away, which means that the output shaft is properly aligned (I think). Has anyone had this problem or replaced an output shaft on the a340 transmission?

If the slip yoke can't slide easily as the rear suspension compresses and extends, it will wear the u-joints quickly. There are bushings in the tail of the transmission, that the slip yoke rides in, and is centered by. If those wear excessively you will generally experience a vibration as the slip yoke wobbles as it spins.

Wear of those bushings would make it easier to slide the slip yoke in and out, as the clearance between the bushings and slip yoke would be excessive. Since the driveline has been smooth after replacing the U-joints, the bushings should be fine.

I'd say it has to be excessively worn splines in the slip yoke, and/or on the trans output shaft that are binding, preventing the slip yoke from moving freely.

If you can pull the slip yoke out and inspect the splines in it, and on the output shaft, that should tell you which part or if both need to be replaced.

Thanks 02SE, that's what I was thinking too but I can't find anyone else who has had the problem.

What I need is a set of instructions to remove/replace the a340 transmission's output shaft. I've RTFM and done my research, to no avail. Does anyone out there have these instructions or has anyone done this procedure before?

OP, did you get this resolved? What was the resolution?

OP was last on the forum in June of 2016