mjwalfredo

What's up with that thing? I got a used driveshaft and the cap on the end popped off when I compressed the slip yoke. It looks like the only way to get it back on is to remove the rear u joint and pound it with a hammer but I don't want to do that because the whole reason I bought the driveshaft in the first place was to avoid replacing the u joints.

Anyone ever have any luck getting it back on without removing the U joint? Is the cap really important? I imagine it is unless I want to be greasing the yoke every time I go for a drive...

DailyDrive

Was it full of grease inside? That's the only way I see it popping out. Grease doesn't compress much, so if it didn't pop out you'd be putting major pressure on your differentials cause your slip yoke was full of grease.

mt_goat

I'd say just put it back on if you can, it will keep the dirt out. Maybe pry it back on.

Maj

Not sure what "cap" it is you are talking about. Do you see it on this diagram?
Mine doesn't have a cap on the sleeve yoke.

mjwalfredo

Well, it's not on the diagram but at the very end of the slip yoke on the side opposite that slips onto the driveshaft, there is a cap that is a little over an inch in diameter. If your shaft is covered in grease and dirt, then you probably would never have noticed it. Also, it didn't look like there was too much grease in the yoke. I think I might have just compressed it too much and it popped off. It's been a pain in the arse to try and pry it back on but I am going to give it a few more goes before I say screw it and run without it. Thanks guys.

mt_goat

Yeah a lot of the Taco guys have those pop out when they over-grease the slip joint. If you can't get it back in and decide to run without it, at least pump a lot of grease in there.

mjwalfredo

So I was able to get the cap back on but it must have fallen off at some point. Anyway, now that I have no cap, it looks like trying to grease the slip yoke through the zerk is pretty much useless as it just seems to shoot right out into the hollowed out center.

I am thinking that I am going to have to unbolt the rear end of the driveshaft and slide off the end and grease the splines by hand. What do you guys think, should I just liberally apply grease to the splines with my fingers?

And obviously, I know I need to mark the shaft so I don't screw up the phasing when I slide the end off and put it back on...

1styota4X4

the frt driveshaft i have is the same way i ahve to pull it out and slap grease on it with my hands ever now and again...I am have tempted to jsut tack welp a small peice over it so i can use the grease zerk

mjwalfredo

I am definitely going to do the same thing with the grease. But I am not sure I should coat it with as much grease as physically possible or just a thin coat. Remember, there is no cap on the end so I don't think I have to worry about trapping too much in there.

1styota4X4

I put a thin coat on the splins cause most gets pushed off when you put it in but i also put a nice chunk where the drive shaft slides in.

Maj

Unless you can find a freeze plug or some other way to cap off the driveshaft you are doomed to the grease becoming contaminated with water and dirt. Especially if you 'wheel. Why not take your old driveshaft to a shop, get new u-joints installed and use that?

mjwalfredo

Yeah, I may do that in the future. It's just that I am living near Boston right now and my old driveshaft is back in SC so that's not really an option until Christmas time.

I don't do any wheeling so I am okay with unbolting the rear and greasing up the splines by hand at every oil change.