When do you need a longer front drive shaft?

[Pender1]

Wondering what the max usable u-joint to u-joint measurement is for the stock shaft. I've got a 3"-ish lift and am about to move my axle forward an inch or so but I have no idea how far out the shaft can go before it starts getting sketchy.

 

[Craig 85]

I just did a 3" lift on my K30 and had to add about an inch. I got lucky in a way, the slip joint was bad and had to be replaced. The new one made up the difference.

 

[Honky Kong jr]

When the original one is to short.

 

[shiftpro]

Depends also how you are using your rig.
Are you going long travel? Drop the anti-sway bar and longer shocks, Ford shock mounts thing?
Because needless to say... but say it anyway, the extra droop and travel will need not necessarily a longer shaft but longer splines on the slip joint.
Craig85 kinda touched on that. His new slip joint was longer and just like that he was dialed in.

 

[Pender1]

Depends also how you are using your rig.
Are you going long travel? Drop the anti-sway bar and longer shocks, Ford shock mounts thing?
Because needless to say... but say it anyway, the extra droop and travel will need not necessarily a longer shaft but longer splines on the slip joint.
Craig85 kinda touched on that. His new slip joint was longer and just like that he was dialed in.

I'm not doing anything wild in the immediate future. Just a lift and shoving the axle forward. I figured I was ok right now, but I couldn't find any answer to the question anywhere so I figured I'd try and ask.

 

[shiftpro]

I'm not doing anything wild in the immediate future. Just a lift and shoving the axle forward. I figured I was ok right now, but I couldn't find any answer to the question anywhere so I figured I'd try and ask.

Right on.
Keep us in the loop please, I want your take on how the truck handles/feels with the axle moved forward. Good call.

 

[shiftpro]

When the original one is to short.

 

[Honky Kong jr]

I answered the question......

 

[shiftpro]

I answered the question......

You were awesome as usual.

 

[CSFJ]

As opposed to lengthening the shaft if it doesn't need it?

 

[Honky Kong jr]

You were awesome as usual.

I lifted mine 6” and had to shorten mine go figure.

 

[shiftpro]

I lifted mine 6” and had to shorten mine go figure.

Did you turn your axle tubes? Point pinion up or something? Upgraded CV and universal resulting in... a shorter shaft?

 

[Pender1]

Right on.
Keep us in the loop please, I want your take on how the truck handles/feels with the axle moved forward. Good call.

Will do. Next paycheck I'm going to order axle relocation plates for the front and axle shims for the back from ORD along with some new brake lines.

 

[Honky Kong jr]

Did you turn your axle tubes? Point pinion up or something? Upgraded CV and universal resulting in... a shorter shaft?

I have a 1.75” spacer between my transmission and transfer case, shackle flip and relocation plates

 

[shiftpro]

I have a 1.75” spacer between my transmission and transfer case, shackle flip and relocation plates

Ohhh, yeah. I was thinking front driveshaft... as this thread is about a front shaft.
Thanks