Just want to make sure I have the right tools to take the drive shaft loose.
I am traveling to pick up a truck and I am flat towing it.

 

2 14mm wrenches to disconect the driveshaft from both 3rd pinion and t/c flanges

 

is it 12 pointed or regular stuff?

 

just use an open ended wrench. its regular

 

wouldn't hurt to mark it too im not sure if that matters or not

 

its not a bad idea too aspecialy if your taking the slined shaft apart. keep that marked if you want that shaft to stay balanced

 

I'm not sure if I'd use an open-ended. The first time I took mine off, they were pretty tight. Tight enough that it felt like an open wrench might strip them. I guess there is no harm in using an open wrench though, since you'd be able to feel if they started to strip, and could then switch to a closed.

 

I typicaly use the closed end myself. Definetly agree. both will work but if they are extra extra tight I would use the closed end for sure. good point

 

and bring some thrust, pb blaster wd or atf/paintthinner and maybe a torch if its a junker they MIGHT BE STUUUUUCK@!

 

x2. It would easier if you did it for a couple consecutive days before. When I removed my t-case, I sprayed the rear driveshaft bolts a couple days before but forgot to do the front. Let's just say the front took a lot more elbow grease

 

just wondering, why would you need to pull the DShaft?? isnt that what neutral for?
and sorry if that sounds stupid...

 

Even in neutral the driveshaft all the way up to the output shaft on the t-case will be spinning, and if it's an automatic, the ATF isn't pumped through the tranny unless the truck's running so it can damage the tranny pretty easily flat towing over a long distance. It's less of an issue with a manual, though.

 

Def mark everything!! I did mine a few years ago(was the 1st time I ever did one on a yota) and didnt mark it, 2 weeks later I watched my dshaft tumbling behing me at 80mph on the highway.... it did lots of damage. ever since then...I ALWAYS mark it, and use good u-joints.

 

Should only matter that you keep the shaft phased. You can flop it 180deg off if you wanted to. Hell you can still run it out of phase, it'll just reduce your max operating angle from 22deg (single cardian) to around 18deg, which if your truck isn't lifted, it should have NO problem.

 

For what it's worth, I didn't mark either driveshaft the first time I took them off. I just plain didn't know I was supposed to. I didn't notice any difference after reinstalling them. I don't have a lift, so that could be why. Since I didn't mark it the first time, I don't bother to mark it anymore whenever I have to take them off. If I were to do it over again, I would mark them, just for reassurance.