B2300 Driveshaft Removal

[fpearson]

Tried a search around here, didn't yield exactly what I was looking for. Wondering if there is anything special about driveshaft removal on a ’97 B2300 5 spd 2wd. Last time I wanted to closely inspect u-joints, I removed all the 12 mm bolts from the flange on at the rear end of the driveshaft and attempted to slide the flanges apart and slide the shaft out of the tranny like I did on the 96 ranger 2 wd 5 spd I used to have but it wouldn’t budge on the B2300. I was pressed for time and everything looked like it would last for awhile so I put it back together because I was afraid there might be something I was missing about driveshaft removal. That was ~10k ago, now I have a squeak and a lot of lost motion when I first apply power just like on the old ranger right before it spit out a bearing cap on the highway so I’d like to do the u-joints as soon as I’m finished working on my ignition problems.

If I unbolt the rear flange, does the driveshaft on the B2300 just slide out of the tranny like the ranger or is there something else I need to do? Thanks all.

 

[kdowney50]

Re: Driveshaft removal

Once you remove the flange bolts, you should be able to slide the drive shaft forward to separate the flanges then drop the tail end and slide it out. You might want to get the rear tires off the ground and put the tranny in neutral to take any torque pressure off the drive train. The two flange halves have alignment pins that will hang you up if there is any pressure on the drive train. Take a small hammer under there with you and tap on the side of the flanges to loosen them. It should come apart.

 

[bcost882]

what he said^^^^^^

 

[zo3423]

I'm having a hard time removing my dome light on my mazda b4000 1999.

 

[AllanD]

There is a shallow "pilot" on the flange on the diff and a female recess for it on the driveshaft half of the "companion flange".

In service these are somewhat tight and tend to take either a jolt with a prybar or a firm whack from a hammer to seperate once the bolts are removed.

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