Driveshaft slip... how much??

[Turtle]

Okay... I have decided to just build my own shaft and have it professionally balanced. Seems most shops will balance it for about $50. That is much more cost efficient then paying $450 for a new one.

I started to put it all together tonight and came to a good stopping point. I am running a standard leaf spring rear suspension. It is SOA with XJ leaves. I am not expecting a WHOLE LOT of flex, but lets pretend I have a good amount. How much slip should the driveshaft have? I obviously don't want the shaft to be to short, nor to long! I am just wondering how much does the driveshaft actually move when being flexed out???

Thanks,
Turtle

[ob1jeeper]

Unless you're running bars to control axle wrap, that is going to be one of your largest contributors to the need for shaft slip...

The OEM. slip travel for these vehicles is in the range of 3.5-4". Even though they rarely use more than 1.2-2" of it. That said, ESPECIALLY for a SOA conversion, if I were going to the trouble of building a special shaft, I'd be opting for one with minimum of 5-6" slip capability...

Hint: Long-travel slip yokes/splines can be had from the Ag business, for reasonable $$'s...;)

Good Luck...;)

[wedge]

I think I need to get my front driveshaft redone again. had mesa driveshaft do it, and the set it so I only had maybe 2 inches of compression sitting level, and just replaced my motor mounts that were TOAST. and now I have less than one inch before the two ends meet.

with shackle reversal, I think I'm gonna break my transfer case. time to get it done again, and not at mesa driveshaft after my last fiasco there.