Agile Off Road Front Shaft

[Dokatd]

This is the worst mechanical task I have ever undertaken. No thank you, please!

Hah, yep they aren't fun. Once you have done a few they seem to get infinitely easier though.

 

[TCMColorado]

This is the worst mechanical task I have ever undertaken. No thank you, please!

No fun at all and why I always engage the services of my local drive line shop. The turn around is usually withing 48 hours and totally worth the cost.

 

[skinny_tom]

Well, my opinion is, we’re relying on the centering ball on two sides to support the driveshaft and keep it from being floppy. That seems to be beyond the design and precision of the manufacture and the units that have been made have had some harmonic interaction. No one that has made one, has decided it was worth while to make 100 and test them to collect sufficient data for anything more than an opinion.

So what you’re going to get here are opinions, but I’m sure there’s someone somewhere that can give a proper theory/explanation outside of this forum if you search hard enough. I didn’t think it would work, I’m ok moving on knowing there have been a couple attempts and failures. I guess there’s a reason I’ve never seen an automobile manufacturer utilize this solution .

This solution was on the front of my 2001 Grand Cherokee from the factory. It lasted about 150k miles- and only then started to vibrate a bit on deceleration at highway speed. AWD for the record, so it was getting the same duty at the Grenadier does.

This solution was also found on my 1965 Cadillac Eldorado with a 6 foot, 35 pound drive shaft- unmolested since it was put together at the factory. History of that vehicle was difficult to determine, however it was clear that it hadn't been rebuilt and it was smooth as silk for the entire duration of my ownership.

The Grand Cherokee was a telescopic drive shaft. The Cadillac was a slip-yoke into the back of a Turbo-400. Neither of them had the angles of what a Grenadier has, and that may well be the difference.

 

[Dokatd]

This solution was on the front of my 2001 Grand Cherokee from the factory. It lasted about 150k miles- and only then started to vibrate a bit on deceleration at highway speed. AWD for the record, so it was getting the same duty at the Grenadier does.

This solution was also found on my 1965 Cadillac Eldorado with a 6 foot, 35 pound drive shaft- unmolested since it was put together at the factory. History of that vehicle was difficult to determine, however it was clear that it hadn't been rebuilt and it was smooth as silk for the entire duration of my ownership.

The Grand Cherokee was a telescopic drive shaft. The Cadillac was a slip-yoke into the back of a Turbo-400. Neither of them had the angles of what a Grenadier has, and that may well be the difference.

One of these days I will stop beating this dead horse.

The jeep shaft you are talking about uses the long boot at differential side of the shaft only. The grease from the joint does not migrate into the boot and harden because the boot is uphill of the joint. If you used that style boot on the jeep or Grenadier at the t-case side of the front drive shaft then you will send all the CV grease into the big floppy boot and it will firm up and stick in the boot on one side. It will then vibrate like a cheap massage bed in a 70-80's era motel and tear itself apart.

Can we be done with this suggestion? I know it's new people coming into the convo, but damn son!!!

 

[Rupert]

Sorry to be so ignorant, just trying to learn.

 

[Tazzieman]

It will then vibrate like a cheap massage bed in a 70-80's era motel and tear itself apart.

Those aren't pillows!

 

[skinny_tom]

One of these days I will stop beating this dead horse.

The jeep shaft you are talking about uses the long boot at differential side of the shaft only. The grease from the joint does not migrate into the boot and harden because the boot is uphill of the joint. If you used that style boot on the jeep or Grenadier at the t-case side of the front drive shaft then you will send all the CV grease into the big floppy boot and it will firm up and stick in the boot on one side. It will then vibrate like a cheap massage bed in a 70-80's era motel and tear itself apart.

Can we be done with this suggestion? I know it's new people coming into the convo, but damn son!!!

Well thanks for beating it, because this thick head needed a few extra minutes to put it together. You and I are talking about different drive shafts.

I don't remember seeing any of those beds in my adult life (I would have tried it) and my mom would never let me drop a quarter in one when we were young.