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Loose Slip Joint Opinions

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by Dphillip, Feb 13, 2020.

  1. Feb 13, 2020
    Dphillip

    Dphillip Member

    Omaha NE
    Joined:
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    I have some play/slop in the slip joint on my front driveshaft. I estimate 1/32 of a inch or so when I grab the joint and move it up and down or side to side. How much is too much?
    Thanks for your thoughts
    47D25D3B-EA2D-4BA6-AFD0-5A02D0B4F534.jpeg
    .
     
  2. Feb 13, 2020
    Rich M.

    Rich M. Shoe salesman 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Maryland
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    That is a lot of spline showing. If thats a factory driveshaft I think your close to it coming apart at full droop. Possibly what's causing your play. Any changes to transmission/transfercase position?
     
  3. Feb 13, 2020
    Long&Low

    Long&Low Active Member

    Geauga County, OH
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  4. Feb 13, 2020
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
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    X3

    And if it came out at any speed, the results might be very ugly. I wouldn't even drive it until I pulled it to see.

    A drive-train shop could easily extend the shaft
     
  5. Feb 13, 2020
    Dphillip

    Dphillip Member

    Omaha NE
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    Thanks for your input.

    It’s a custom made Tom Wood driveshaft that’s been in the vehicle for about 20 years. With the limited use of 4WD I wouldn’t think the slip joint would ever wear out.

    I’ll likely pull it and send it back to Tom Wood. I’ll even re-measure to make sure it’s the correct length.
     
  6. Feb 13, 2020
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
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    True if you have locking hubs and they are rarely engaged.

    OTOH, in my own limited and subjective experience, front slip joints seem to wear out sooner than rear ones.
     
  7. Feb 14, 2020
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Every front driveshaft on every jeep i have ever been in possession of has been worn out. Some of them move around 1/2 to1 inch. None of them have shown that much spline.. Maybe yours has extra long splines, but like the guys said, pull it and check it.

    The problem is that when these drive shafts get all worn out, they will fail when you need that 4wd. The splines will spin and that's it.

    I made my own front shaft. Needed all new, so I bought all the parts, cut the DOM to length, trued everything up on my lathe and welded it.
    Dana Spicer 2-3-4441KX 1310 series Jeep slip yoke for front driveshaft
    Dana Spicer 2-40-1771 Driveshaft Spline fits 1.25 inch tubing
    Here is the DOM
    Buy Cold Roll Steel Round Tube / Tubing Online
    And if you just want to make the whole thing new, here is the weld yoke
    Dana Spicer 2-26-347 Driveshaft Weld Yoke 1310 Series for 1.25 inch tubing

    Those are the part numbers and I didn't want to spend 51 bucks on the weld yoke, so I sourced a NOS NIB one off eBay for some savings

    If you don't have a lathe, but still have a welder, it's ok. The front driveshaft can be out of true by a couple thousandths and still be fine unless you do a lot of his speed driving in 4 HI like in snow or you leave your locking hubs locked.
     
    Fireball, Dphillip and Rich M. like this.
  8. Feb 15, 2020
    Dphillip

    Dphillip Member

    Omaha NE
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    I called Tom Wood Driveshafts and was told that 1/32” of play/slop in the slip joint was excessive. I was going to send them my old shaft and have a new slip joint installed but there is not much price difference between a complete new shaft and repairing my old one when you factor in shipping. My welding skills are limited so making a shaft myself was not considered. So, a new shaft is on order.

    Here is my old driveshaft fully extended.
    There was 3.5 inches of exposed splines and 2.5 inches of splines in the slip.

    88ABC342-2A58-41A9-93B0-B9D50891B33F.jpeg
     
  9. Feb 15, 2020
    colojeepguy

    colojeepguy Colorado Springs

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    Do you have locking hubs? If so I wouldn't worry about 1/32 of play in the shafts. Just don't drive at high speed with the hubs locked.
     
    jpflat2a likes this.
  10. Feb 15, 2020
    CHUGALUG

    CHUGALUG Member

    Silverton, OR
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    I recently got both Drive shafts from Tom Woods $238 each (I upgraded to long splines and Rubber Boots) And I couldn't be happier.
     
  11. Feb 15, 2020
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    :shock:
     
  12. Feb 15, 2020
    Oldriginal86

    Oldriginal86 Member

    Pasadena, Md.
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    I would think a good shot of grease would take care of 1/32” of play.
     
    47v6 likes this.
  13. Feb 16, 2020
    Dphillip

    Dphillip Member

    Omaha NE
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    I do have locking hubs.
     
  14. Feb 17, 2020
    73 cj5

    73 cj5 Not ready for the junkyard yet

    Clinton, Mississippi
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    I have a few farm equipment dealers and shops around and they all carry pto shafts of different lengths and sizes.....
     
  15. Feb 17, 2020
    Rich M.

    Rich M. Shoe salesman 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Given that I'd grease it up and stick it back in.
     
    47v6 likes this.
  16. Feb 17, 2020
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Yeah, me too.
     
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  17. Feb 18, 2020
    Warloch

    Warloch Did you say Flattie??? Staff Member

    Falcon, CO
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    I was thinking it looked like an extended spline setup as well - I run those on my rigs from Tom Woods too and really like them.
     
  18. Feb 18, 2020
    Dphillip

    Dphillip Member

    Omaha NE
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    Something odd when I pulled the driveshaft out and placed it on the bench. I noticed the yokes were not in complete phase with each other. One yoke rested flat on the bench with the other yoke off the bench about 15%?
    I wonder if this could promote slip joint wear?
    DBB47974-FB2B-4FCA-8B62-AA76FE4575AC.jpeg B1C8B85A-8CF4-4CFD-887F-FEAEA7ECA0B8.jpeg
     
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  19. Feb 18, 2020
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
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    Sure. It has the effect of accelerating and decelerating each component in every revolution, working against one another.

    Sounds like the slip joint might have been clocked off by one spline?
     
  20. Feb 18, 2020
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
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    How often do you drive with your hubs locked?
     
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