Rear drive shaft has me stumpped

[Jon]

I dropped my rear shaft to replace the worn U-joints that were causing a bad vibration. The rear is the worst of all three. But I can't manage to bang any of them out even with the BFH and yes, I removed the inner retaining rings. So I need a nice press or removal tool but that's not all. Isn't this sucker supposed to telescope? If so, mine is locked up. That would explain why the tires come forward when the axle is dropped and get pushed back when the they get stuffed. I can go grab one out of a 99' for $145 right down the street. I've also got a good friend in a local but not so close transmission shop that does drive shafts but he hasn't returned my call yet. $145 seems like a good price at this point rather than trying to repair mine. Any Ideas?

 

[Jon]

Still got the vibration with the rear drive shaft removed. I also noticed it pulls pretty hard to the right when in throttle and lets loose and jumps to the right after I let out of the throttle. I went to thinking brakes. Sure enough the passenger wheel is nice and hot and the drivers is warm (normal temp). Ripping the brake apart now and then pricing a new caliper in case this one is locked up and damaged beyond repair.

 

[Pikeman]

Pump it full of grease and it might come apart. Then a good servicing with a brass brush to clean the splines of the slip joint will help. Also the fact your axle comes forward at droop and goes back at stuff is not related to your shaft being stuck, but more a problem with the Geometry of the link arms and the ARC they travel. The U-joints being worn badly can be a factor since you are applying more stress to them by not having the drive shaft telescoping properly.

 

[Jon]

Thanks Pikeman, I'd like to just have my local trans shop rebuild the U-joints for me since they're being such a hastle, but I'm gonna do my best to get this thing to sepperate without knocking a chunk out of it. Currently soaking in PB Blaster.

I'm 99% sure it was the passenger side brake locked up that was causing all this. One of the outer pistons was locked up and took a lot of negotiation to reset with the C-clamp. It popped loose and everything was going good on reassembly then noticed the metal hard line was slightly kinked at the caliper and gave it a slight bend back to shape and of course it popped. Tomorrow I'll be getting the hard line and possibly the driveshaft off the donner 4Runner up the road. The guy talks a lot and acts like he knows a lot but I can tell he's just an older "self taught" mechanic like myself. I might give him $50 for the drive shaft not the $145 he's asking. Same guy that I was about to buy a 89' 300ZX Turbo from. I found the 4Runner 2hrs after blowing the MSD coil on the POS durring a test drive. Granted we closed the waste gate allowing for 19psi on crappy old MSD. Thank Baby Jesus for Craig's List! He still has it the guy that bought the 300from him blew the motor and made him take it back. Hell of a salse man, tried to sell it to me again with a blown motor!

Hope I fixed it with the brake issue and can have the drive shaft back in soon, Kaiser is headin down this way again for the holidays and I told him we'd do some wheelin. Find out tomorrow, I gotta get some shut eye and then the in-laws will be here when I have to wake up and go to work :banana: work's never sounded so good!

 

[Jon]

Drive shaft is all good and new brake line is in, Success! No more vibration and it doesn't feel like I'm towing a small trailer any more.

 

[Kurtis]

Good to hear it! Feels nice after ya fix somethin' and the rigs runnin' good huh?!?