2006 TJ 4.0 Driveshaft Question

[Joeyt$]

Question for you all. I recently acquired a TJ from my cousin. He sold me an 06 TJ wrangler X 4.0L automatic. His front drive shaft was bent from frozen or failed U joints, the shop took it off and threw it out. He purchased a new 42" driveshaft and sent it with the jeep when i received it. I went to throw it in the other day and it appears to be about an inch off? Am i missing something here? I purchased some hardware from dead jeep parts, the front has the shorter bolts and the shackles, the rear has the longer bolts that go in from behind, but no shackles. All the mounts are present on the front diff, and on the transfer case, but alas, too short. The driveshaft i have is a one piece, but looks like it was two separate pieces that were welded together. I'll post the pic here below of the one i have. I've really only dealt with driveshafts that have slip yolks, so this one is confusing me.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[Chris]

It may have simply been a bit too long. Any competent driveshaft shop can easily shorten it to the correct size.

 

[Joeyt$]

It may have simply been a bit too long. Any competent driveshaft shop can easily shorten it to the correct size.

Hey Chris, This one is too short, but i don't see any options online for a longer than 42" driveshaft. Am i missing something stupid, like the section in the middle of the driveshaft has a lock on it where i have to pull a pin or something to get a slip yolk function? It doesn't look like a typical 1 piece drive shaft to me, it looks like two sections of driveshaft are welded together to make it a 42" driveshaft, but i look at pictures of others and it looks like a flex piece is in the center.

Unfortunately i don't have a competent driveshaft shop around these parts. So aside from getting my own measurements and sending away for one, not certain what i could do.

 

[Chris]

Hey Chris, This one is too short, but i don't see any options online for a longer than 42" driveshaft. Am i missing something stupid, like the section in the middle of the driveshaft has a lock on it where i have to pull a pin or something to get a slip yolk function? It doesn't look like a typical 1 piece drive shaft to me, it looks like two sections of driveshaft are welded together to make it a 42" driveshaft, but i look at pictures of others and it looks like a flex piece is in the center.

Unfortunately i don't have a competent driveshaft shop around these parts. So aside from getting my own measurements and sending away for one, not certain what i could do.

Can you post a high resolution photo of your actual driveshaft?

 

[Joeyt$]

 

[Joeyt$]

See the attached

 

[JKP]

Pull the 2 pieces apart. It has a slip joint.

 

[ColoJeep]

See the attachedView attachment 591826

It has a slip joint.

 

[Joeyt$]

So on higher end drive shafts it appears that section expands, like a slip yolk. I guess they call that the flexible spline shaft. So am i missing something on this one, should that be expandable?

 

[Joeyt$]

Pull the 2 pieces apart. It has a slip joint.

Like, just pull really hard or does it have a locking pin???

 

[JKP]

No locking pin. Just pull. The grease zerk at the u joint is for the splines.

 

[Joeyt$]

Thanks, that's good news. I guess i expected it to naturally be expanded like a hydraulic shock or something. I'll install it this week. I appreciate your help

 

[JMT]

Thanks, that's good news. I guess i expected it to naturally be expanded like a hydraulic shock or something. I'll install it this week. I appreciate your help

Pull really hard. Sometimes the grease makes it very difficult to slide the splined male and female sides apart.

P.s. that’s a double cardan shaft

 

[Joeyt$]

Thanks again fellas. I threw it in my vice and pulled super hard then it

Pull really hard. Sometimes the grease makes it very difficult to slide the splined male and female sides apart.

P.s. that’s a double cardan shaft

Thanks, yeah i threw it in my bench vice and pulled really hard, eventually gave way. I appreciate it. Problem solved!