I've been trying to track down the vibration I have been getting at anything over 55-60mph and while under my Jeep today I noticed that there is a little bit of play in the front driveshaft at the slip joint. I am able to move it up and down a heavy 1/32" to a light 1/16". Is this normal?

I had my Jeep aligned and the tires balanced and while that was going on I noticed my front u-joint was bad so I took the shaft out and had all 3 replaced. I drove it for a day like that and I didn't notice the vibration then but as soon as I put the driveshaft back in it came back, albeit much less this time. I've been trying to figure out if its one of the yokes or the driveshaft itself that is bad. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks,

Zach

 

not it is not normal, you probly need a new one, this happened to me and almost ruined my t-case and all sorts of stuff when it blew out when i was goin like 65 mph...it was really bad

 

So there shouldn't be any play at all? Good to know. I'll remove the shaft before something bad happens. Any ideas as to where to find a quality new front shaft?

 

yeah definitely remove it, um im not sure about a replacement, im actually lookin for one myself, i think tom woods makes one, might be pricey though

 

for a replacement shaft i always go to the salvage yard and pick one up for 20-40 bucks

i have found that 19 out of 20 times the used front shafts are in perfect shape

 

Just for visual reference this is not my driveshaft in the video but mine has at least this much play if not a little more

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=http:...eature=related

 

Yeah that needs to be replaced. You could always try greasing it up... it might tighten it up enough till you find a new shaft.

 

Yeah already did that, didn't work but thanks for the suggestion. Looks like removing it and finding a new one is what I have to do. My other question is I just had all the u-joints replaced in this one, could those be transferred over to a junk yard shaft or am I basically SOL on those? Thanks,

 

I think the groved shaft part goes on the cradon joint side so I would try to swap in the JY front first. Hate to waste the 40 or so bones you spent on the ujoints.
If that doesn't work you can try VERY carefully to remove the joints. NO HAMMERS. just a vise!