2 piece front drive shaft loose

[beachsuburban]

So on the 2 piece front driveshaft where they come together there is a bunch of play and its making some noise. Also noticed a zerk fitting but I never greased it. Any solutions? Thanks!

 

[xm20k]

Uh Ya grease the snot out of it and see what happens maybe You'll get lucky, and it won't be junk and stop making noise.

If they are built how I believe they are you may be buying a whole new drive shaft if it is shot.

 

[Chevy 88]

I agree, grease the heck out of it and see how it goes. If that doesn't work, then you probably have to get a replacement. If you can separate the parts, then removing all the dirt and rust from the splines might be beneficial, so that it doesn't turn into a gritty paste that might further degrade the splines over time.

 

[beachsuburban]

Yes the parts separate, I saw somewhere about a cork and dust cap as a fix, using this

Spicer D3A Dust Cap Kit​

from amazon



Would this work?

 

[Chevy 88]

I'm not sure if a cork and dust cap would help, but I doubt it would hurt anything.

 

[77Dmax]

Is the truck lifted? Once they are over extended they become loose due to a short engagement between the shafts.

That however may just be effed from a lack of grease. That is bone dry, and thats not good. That joint moves none stop as the axle hits bumps.

 

[beachsuburban]

Yes it has a 4" lift.

 

[saltdog]

take it apart, clean it up, grease it and add a new collar and yes-

Spicer D3A Dust Cap Kit is what you need​

 

[Turbo4whl]

There is a grease fitting on the front CV joint too. Need a needle point adapter to grease it.

 

[edgephoto]

Take it to a driveshaft place and have it fixed. Make sure to tell them the truck is lifted. I am sure they will be able to tell from the damage how long to make it.

Just had both my driveshafts done. Rear - u-joints replaced and balanced. Front - Joints replaced and a new trunnion installed.

 

[beachsuburban]

Alright I will take it off and check it out.
Thanks

 

[CalSgt]

Take it to a driveshaft place and have it fixed. Make sure to tell them the truck is lifted. I am sure they will be able to tell from the damage how long to make it.

Just had both my driveshafts done. Rear - u-joints replaced and balanced. Front - Joints replaced and a new trunnion installed.

Another vote for a driveline shop, if it can’t be repaired they should be able to cut the slip joint off, replace it and rebalance it.

I’d gamble your double cardan joint at the other end is shot too unless the centering ball has been getting greased.

 

[beachsuburban]

I am a little confused. What needs to be repaired besides the dust cap and cork? I don't mind taking it to the shop but that repair seems easy if it separates at the slip joint. Its wiggles a bunch so it should slide right off.

 

[Memaloose]

If I were you, I'd remove the front shaft until it's repaired. I drove a '75 K/20 from OR to AZ and the front shaft came apart on the trip taking out the tranny pan in the middle of nowhere, a failed U joint. I had inspected and greased the whole drivetrain before I left but it was all OE. Anyway, to be safe that's what I'd do, you don't want a front driveshaft coming apart while driving on the highway.

 

[Goldie Driver]

If I were you, I'd remove the front shaft until it's repaired. I drove a '75 K/20 from OR to AZ and the front shaft came apart on the trip taking out the tranny pan in the middle of nowhere, a failed U joint. I had inspected and greased the whole drivetrain before I left but it was all OE. Anyway, to be safe that's what I'd do, you don't want a front driveshaft coming apart while driving on the highway.

I agree with you but the OPs info says it is a part time rig. 89 V2500.

Our old 77 Suburban (full time) had a catastrophic failure like you described while my sister was driving it and took out the transmission and came up through the floorboard. Truck was scrapped in AZ circa '94.