Inspecting drive shaft?

[computersoc]

2001 Ford Ranger XLT standard transmission. 215k miles.

In my other thread I posted how my muffler fell off the mounts, hit the drive shaft, then got thrown into the shock and busted the shock. From hitting the drive shaft, the tail pipe got all tangled up and the stainless steel muffler itself was bashed in. I was pulling out of a parking spot when this happened but it was LOUD.

Could this have damaged the drive shaft too? I felt and tried to wiggle the ujoint and it didn't move/seemed normal. What else should I be checking for?

Service brake lines didn't get busted but is it normal for them to have a tiny bit of play to them if I wiggle them? The ones that run near the rear differential. My ebrake cable got bit in two locations so that's gotta get replaced too.

 

[adsm08]

Yes normal for some movement from the brake lines. The big thing to look for on the shaft is a dent.

 

[computersoc]

If there was a dent, what would the symptoms be when driving? I will inspect it again but I think it looked fine. I have a welt in the bed also.

 

[pjtoledo]

vibrations.
to check, jack up a rear wheel and rotate it slowly. look at the driveshaft, place something/anything real close to the driveshaft to check if its bent.
if you have a LSD jack up both rear wheels.

while you're under there check the rear brake line for rust. look at the frame bracket where the rubber from the axle meets the steel line. they rust and break off right at the fitting.