Because nothing is as simple as it ever seems I must ask, how do you remove the driveshaft (one piece) from our trucks...any special tools required, precautions, etc. ?

 

Paint a line on the flange on the end of the driveshart and continue on the pumpkin. THis will show you correct driveshaft orientation when you reinstall it. Remove the bolts and drop out the driveshaft. Put a cap in the tailcone of the trans. Good Luck.

 

SHRIKE,

Thanks for the reply. Is the driveshaft heavy? Should I brace it with a jack to lower it after removing the bolts? Also, I suppose you have to use a universal socket to get to the bolts or maybe I just need to get a shorter socket since I could not get my wrench and socket in place to loosen the bolts.

 

The driveshaft is not heavy at all. A socket will work fine. I used my 3/8" breaker bar with a standard socket and an extension. Just make sure you're using a 12pt socket (or whatever the pt count is on the bolt). If you try and use a 6pt wrench or socket it won't fit.

 

Thanks all...got the drive shaft out and will get it balanced tomorrow. Does anyone know the torque requirement? I must say, the bolts must have been put on my someone who ate his Wheaties...tight as...

 

Crain, do you know at what RPMs they will balance it at? I wanted to get mine balanced last year but the the shop that does aluminum shafts only spins them to 3,500 RPMs.

It doesnt seem like much considering how fast they turn during highway driving. Maybe it's fast enuff for the machine to work properly?

Good luck.

 

LE PEW,

No, I don't know what RPMs the shop used to balance my drive shaft but whatever they used, it did not work. I was experiencing constant vibration when exceeding 80 MPH and only minor vibration under hard acceleration over 4000 RPMs. I got mines balanced yesterday, re-installed it as before, and now I have the vibration problem at 70 MPH. While I don't normally drive 80 MPH, I routine drive70-75 MPH. So, it's back to the shop Monday but quite frankly, I wonder if I need to get rid of this aluminum drive shaft all together.

 

Try "indexing" the driveshaft. Rotate it 180* from where you disconnected it from the factory install. Sometimes this works.

 

I've tried indexing/rotating 180 degrees with no success. Anyway, I went back to the drive shaft shop and now I am at least back to 80-85MPH with the same annonying vibration. I am running 31.6" tires or 265/75/61 with 4:10 gears. According to a chart I saw somewhere, I recall 33" tires were a closer match for 4:10 gears. Do you all think changing my tires to a set of 33" tires will help the tire/gear ratio and thus eliminate or reduce the vibration problem?

 

No. It will cause the vibration to begin at a lower speed.