question about two-piece driveshaft

[meck]

I've got the '94 extended cab with the two-piece driveshaft. Can someone give me an idea of how much play there should be in the slip joint on the driveshaft? I'm trying to track down a slight vibration, and there seems to be a good bit of play in that joint. I don't know, though, how much is considered okay.

Thanks.

 

[cvar]

Mine slides freely, but had very little play, in rotation. I dunno, perhaps 2 degrees? Hardly any at all. More play would cause a "clunk" when changing between fwd & reverse, and that's just irritating. Maybe it needs more grease?
Or maybe your shaft got bent (off-road)?

Is your central rubber carrier bushing worn out? Mine was shot, and it caused vibration. So I tossed the original 2 piece driveshaft, and got a used 1-piece steel driveshaft from a 2001 Ranger. No vibration now. I sometimes get a little clunk from its slip-joint, which I didn't grease (I was lazy), so I'm gonna grease it this weekend, too.

 

[meck]

Thanks for your reply. I may try changing to a one-piece drive shaft as I've never liked the two piece ones (had trouble with it on another truck). Did you have any problems with doing the replacing, like with the frame crossmember getting in the way?

Thanks.

 

[adsm08]

The crossmember for the carrier has to be removed, but other than that it should be a bolt in swap.

 

[cvar]

The cross-member stays put, if your truck is not lifted. The mounting bracket atop the cross-member gets removed, and for that you must grind/drill away its 3 rivets.

See photos at http://imgur.com/a/BL7mz

It's a quick & painless job. Easier than I expected. The new 1-piece driveshaft easily clears the crossmember and the fuel skid plate, on my truck.