Excessive backlash front driveshaft

[Tj04]

When doing my SYE with a friend we noticed my front drive shaft has a good deal of backlash. Way more than my rear driveshaft. Rotating it back and fourth, it goes a good deal before engaging the gears.

Is this normal, should the front have way more slop/play than the rear? His bronco front and rear is like what my rear driveshaft is.

Mine has not been regeared before.

I'm driving it around town with just the front shaft and every time put it in gear I get a clunk, which seriously sounds like the backlash being excessive. We checked the u joints and they all seem fine.

 

[Rob5589]

What you are feeling is the combination of all the movement in the differential, not just backlash. The yoke will turn an eighth to a quarter turn generally.

 

[Tj04]

So this seems normal? Also normal that the rear doesn't have this much movement?

 

[Rob5589]

So this seems normal? Also normal that the rear doesn't have this much movement?

Sure. They don't have to be equal, one could be more than the other. Point is, the movement there is normal.

 

[Tj04]

Sure. They don't have to be equal, one could be more than the other. Point is, the movement there is normal.

Gotcha. Thanks. Just struck me as odd.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

You'll see a little extra rotational movement on the front driveshaft when the t-case is in 2wd which disengages the front driveshaft.

 

[Tj04]

Thanks Jerry and Rob! Can't wait for my cv Adams drive shaft