Driveshaft play?(rotation by hand)

[toyslug]

Hi Guys: May be a dumb question, but need to know if it is normal for the drive shafts (I have a TE) to have some play" ie. I was under my truck lubricating the drive shafts and I was able to rotate the REAR drive shaft up to about half an inch in either direction. I was NOT able to rotate the FRONT drive shaft at all(NO movement). Please advise whether it means I have a problem with my REAR drive shaft.
Currently I have 50,126 miles on my 2010 TE and have been lubricating the zerks on the drive shafts every 5000 miles on my own after the end of the free 2 year maintenance plan.
TIA, Toyslug

 

[ant-ny]

Yes, completely normal to have some play in your driveshaft. And it seems much more so AFTER one gets married:hiding:. Sorry, I could not resist. I don't have an answer to your question...

 

[KidVermicious]

The backlash in your differential gears will lead to very small amount of rotational play. When you say a 1/2inch, how far in degrees do you mean? If it's as much as an 8th of a rotation, that's way too much.

Is the play in the differential pinion, the u joints, or the slip spline?

 

[toyslug]

Thanks for the response guys.
Kevin, only know that when I grab hold in the middle between the lube points at either end of the rear drive shaft, I can only describe it as rotational movement less than 1 inch in either direction of the entire shaft.

 

[diverscale]

not an expert in drivetrain, but mine is a 2013 and does the same. Pretty sure it's normal.

 

[toyslug]

Thanks for the reply, Diverscale. I guess I worry too much b/c of my limited mechanical knowledge and experience!