Drive shaft too short

[85C10Draven]

Hi, I am having an issue with my truck. Took it to the shop, found out the drive shaft is too short. Yoke is not completely setting. Transmission had some work done to it a little bit ago, but what I was wondering was if I installed a 2/4 inch lowering kit from bell tech if it would let the yoke sit properly. I’m ready to purchase this lowering kit, I mean I am gonna lower it no matter what but I’m including pictures of how the yoke looks right now and how my truck sits. Needing some answers, just replaced the old yoke because the way it is sitting if I drive it, it is scoring the yoke itself. Wanting to know if 4” inch lowering kit the back and 2” in the front will be enough to make it sit right ?

 

[Tonimus]

Welcome to the group. If you're going to do the lowering kit anyway, just do it and see where you're at. It's hard to tell exactly where the slip yoke will end up after the kit. It'll come forward a little, but likely not as much as you hope.

 

[Scott91370]

When I lowered mine (flip kit) I ended up shortening my drive shaft 3/4". I would definitely lower it first then adjust the DS to fit.

 

[85C10Draven]

When I lowered mine (flip kit) I ended up shortening my drive shaft 3/4". I would definitely lower it first then adjust the DS to fit.

If you don’t mind me asking, what are the exact specs on your lowering system? Front and back. Curious, asking around what everyone is running.

 

[Scott91370]

If you don’t mind me asking, what are the exact specs on your lowering system? Front and back. Curious, asking around what everyone is running.

Front is 2.5" spindles and 1.5" springs.
Rear is an axle flip kit only. No C notch or shackle extenders. I've heard that the flip kit can be between 5-6 inches but I did not measure.

 

[Bextreme04]

Hi, I am having an issue with my truck. Took it to the shop, found out the drive shaft is too short. Yoke is not completely setting. Transmission had some work done to it a little bit ago, but what I was wondering was if I installed a 2/4 inch lowering kit from bell tech if it would let the yoke sit properly. I’m ready to purchase this lowering kit, I mean I am gonna lower it no matter what but I’m including pictures of how the yoke looks right now and how my truck sits. Needing some answers, just replaced the old yoke because the way it is sitting if I drive it, it is scoring the yoke itself. Wanting to know if 4” inch lowering kit the back and 2” in the front will be enough to make it sit right ?

It's impossible to tell from your pics if it is even short. You should be able to unhook the driveshaft from the axle and then bottom out the yoke in the trans. make a mark on the yoke where it sits on the seal when bottomed out, then pull the yoke out enough to reconnect it. You should have 3/4"-1" of pull-out at ride height. If you know the overall driveshaft length and the angle of the driveshaft compared to the angle of the bed, you can figure out exactly how much more the yoke will go in with a lowering kit with some math.

 

[Edelbrock]

Ya, from the pics - what makes you fell that there is a problem? Everything looks fin to me in the pics. Every time you hit a bump, the driveshaft pushed into the trans and then slide out a bit and then settles somewhere in the middle. If it gets compressed too far, then the rear end will bash the driveshaft into the trans. If it gets pulled out too far then the drive shaft falls out of the trans and falls to the pavement. You would have to mark where its at now, and then remove the U-joint from the rear axle, then then slide the drive shaft out of the trans to see exactly how far its inserted into the trans and judge things from there. Oh, and while the driveshaft it out, pop that seal and and tap a new one in.

 

[BRetty]

Mine is too short as well. Turnd out the PO replaced the drivetrain in my 73 C10 with an 81 Suburban, which is a 1.5" shorter wheelbase. He lowered the rear 6" with an axle flip, so it looks similar to yours at the tailshaft.

 

[Keith Seymore]

Hi, I am having an issue with my truck. Took it to the shop, found out the drive shaft is too short. Yoke is not completely setting. Transmission had some work done to it a little bit ago, but what I was wondering was if I installed a 2/4 inch lowering kit from bell tech if it would let the yoke sit properly. I’m ready to purchase this lowering kit, I mean I am gonna lower it no matter what but I’m including pictures of how the yoke looks right now and how my truck sits. Needing some answers, just replaced the old yoke because the way it is sitting if I drive it, it is scoring the yoke itself. Wanting to know if 4” inch lowering kit the back and 2” in the front will be enough to make it sit right ?

What if -

You just undid the springs at the rear shackle and let the back of the truck down four inches? Check the yoke then and see where it ends up.

The front drop (or lack thereof) should not affect this.

K

 

[Ricko1966]

Hi, I am having an issue with my truck. Took it to the shop, found out the drive shaft is too short. Yoke is not completely setting. Transmission had some work done to it a little bit ago, but what I was wondering was if I installed a 2/4 inch lowering kit from bell tech if it would let the yoke sit properly. I’m ready to purchase this lowering kit, I mean I am gonna lower it no matter what but I’m including pictures of how the yoke looks right now and how my truck sits. Needing some answers, just replaced the old yoke because the way it is sitting if I drive it, it is scoring the yoke itself. Wanting to know if 4” inch lowering kit the back and 2” in the front will be enough to make it sit right ?

If this is a one piece driveshaft you are aware that the yoke should be 3/4" pulled out of the transmission at ride height aren't you? The yoke is not supposed to be bottomed. It has to have room to move in and out as the car goes over bumps and dips. Is this a one piece driveshaft or 2 piece with a carrier bearing.