dropping the driveshaft.

1971ford · Post by **1971ford** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 7:26 pm

hey guys, whats the best way to get the drive shaft out? i need to get it out soon. were towing the truck donw to the welding shop, and i dont want the transmission getting any action because the engine is out and the transmission is just sitting in there still.

how should i get it out?
i looked at it and saw some clips and stuff

1971ford · Post by **1971ford** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 8:35 pm

thanks!

1971ford · Post by **1971ford** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 9:35 pm

wow. took me 5 minutes (in the dark) to go out, pick up the wrench, and get the 4 small nuts off and slide the driveshaft out!

jeeeeeeeeeze. i thought it would take a long time!

19674x4 · Post by **19674x4** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 9:42 pm

nope. its pobably the easiest job to do on a vital part of a vehicle.

1971ford · Post by **1971ford** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 9:49 pm

must be nice for quick driveshaft swaps when wheeling your 4x4's !

fordman · Post by **fordman** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 11:07 pm

a couple of thing you should do. 1 is to mark the way the driveshaft came out. it has to go back the same way to keep its balance. i bet you actually have the two piece shaft since your truck is a longbed. 2 take some tape and wrap it all the way around the naked ujoint. that will help keep the caps on the ujoint so it doesnt loose the needle bearings.

1971ford · Post by **1971ford** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 8:49 pm

yeah my dad told me to secure the bearings

what if i didnt mark the driveshaft?

and yes its a 2 piece shaft.

fordman · Post by **fordman** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 9:03 pm

well it can only go back two different ways. it should line up witht he other half. in other words the ujoints on each shaft should point the same direction or be lined up i should say. the open side should be lined up with the open side if you know what i mean. i dont have any pics. i think kieth has a pic of this someplace.