Is this amount of play in my front driveshaft normal?

[LONGJP2]

In the video I followed from Jeep Solid he marked it and I think he said he recommended doing so because the driveshaft is balanced from the factory and it's best to put everything back in the same factory orientation for that reason?

The driveshaft is not balanced on the vehicle, so it shouldn't matter.
YRMV
Marking the orientation is so you don't put it together 180° out if you pull the driveshaft's slip-joint apart.
Plus, there would be no marks for installing a new driveshaft.

 

[GregBelleville]

Just wanted to close the loop on this thread, after dinner technical difficulties for to Amazon shipping me a u joint that was the incorrect size, I was finally able to install all 3 new u joints in the driveshaft and get the driveway reinstalled on Saturday. Took the TJ out for a test drive yesterday and all was smooth up to 70 mph, well smooth as a TJ can be anyway .

This was a fun little project that helped me understand how simple removing a driveshaft could be in case I ever have to do so on the trail, although I'm not sure how I would do that without removing the skid plate as well. It would be very difficult to reach the 4 bolts on the transfer case with the skid still on, has anyone ever done so and if so, how were you able to teach those 4 bolts? Multiple extensions?

 

[97' 4 Popper]

Just wanted to close the loop on this thread, after dinner technical difficulties for to Amazon shipping me a u joint that was the incorrect size, I was finally able to install all 3 new u joints in the driveshaft and get the driveway reinstalled on Saturday. Took the TJ out for a test drive yesterday and all was smooth up to 70 mph, well smooth as a TJ can be anyway .

This was a fun little project that helped me understand how simple removing a driveshaft could be in case I ever have to do so on the trail, although I'm not sure how I would do that without removing the skid plate as well. It would be very difficult to reach the 4 bolts on the transfer case with the skid still on, has anyone ever done so and if so, how were you able to teach those 4 bolts? Multiple extensions?

You disconnect the front driveshaft from the front axle yoke, and then it will spin freely and you can turn the driveshaft to whatever position is most convenient, then you temporarily slide the front u joint back into the front yoke again to hold it from spinning when you try to remove the rear bolts. I didn't need extensions. just a short socket on a quarter inch drive. You can use the access hole or just reach in with your arms. I found the access hole to be useless for anything other than spraying the bolts with kroil.

 

[97' 4 Popper]

Jacking up the front end would make it easier so you don't have to keep taking the u joint in and out.

 

[GregBelleville]

You disconnect the front driveshaft from the front axle yoke, and then it will spin freely and you can turn the driveshaft to whatever position is most convenient, then you temporarily slide the front u joint back into the front yoke again to hold it from spinning when you try to remove the rear bolts. I didn't need extensions. just a short socket on a quarter inch drive. You can use the access hole or just reach in with your arms. I found the access hole to be useless for anything other than spraying the bolts with kroil.

You make a good point, and also in a trail fix situation, I may only need to disconnect the driveway at the axle to get it out of the way and limp the rig home.