broken driveshaft = new guy lost

[brokentj]

First off, I'd like to say that I've been reading this BB for a couple of months now and am constantly amazed by the amount of knowledge flowing around here and that everyone does seem to do their best to be truly helpful. It is very cool that there are places like this that exist.---Although, some of you know way more than any single man/woman should be permitted to. smile.gif

Now, to my question: I just broke the driveshaft on a stock '98 TJ. I had been planning on throwing on a Rough Country series II lift (in the very near future), but wasn't planning on going with the SYE. But, since I have to get a new driveshaft, do you all think that it would be a good idea to go that route, or should I just get a stock one and call it good? I don't want to waste money on something unnecessary, but if I could spend a few bucks extra and have a much better setup in the end, it seems like it might be worth it...

Also, I'm assuming that the lift and that driveshaft/SYE would have to go on simultaneously. Would there be any way to have my operable while I wait for the lift to be shipped (other than throwing in a stock driveshaft)?

[OhioYJ]

If you do the SYE you'll still need a new driveshaft, it doesn't have to be a CV driveshaft, but your stock one won't work.

What broke on your driveshaft?

A SYE is stronger, and helps with driveline angles, so its worth thinking about. Is it absolutely necessary, no, is it better yes.

You should be able to run the SYE and new driveshaft on the stock suspension, assuming the driveshaft you get has enough play in the slip yoke on the stock suspension.

Have you checked into geting your driveshaft fixed? Or a junk yard factory driveshaft? If you do have a local junkyard you can use a front XJ/TJ driveshaft and have it shortened for use on the rear, to save some cash.

Lots of choices I guess, welcome to the board.

[jls]

Call tom woods and see what he says... I would suggest that if you need a new DS that you should get the SYE while you are at it. and my guess is that you can run the sye and new DS until you get the lift, but again that is my guess- others will know more

Tom woods http://www.4xshaft.com/index.html

[luckeeluke]

The SYE shouldn't be too bad to put in yourself. I ended up doing mine and I really had never took apart a transfer case before.

If you have the extra cash, I would go for the SYE. If you are going to be using the Jeep on the trails and such it might be a good idea to get it done now.

You SHOULD be able to use the SYE and CV diveshaft with no lift and then with your 4 inch lift. I would think adjustable control arms and/or transfercase drop and/or enough spline showing in the slip spline of the rear CV should allow you to set up the angle for no lift and then for a 4 inch lift. Like OhioYJ said the spline will make a difference in how much leeway you have. This is just a WILD GUESS but I would imagine you would see at least 1-3 inch change in the spline showing on the rear CV when you go from 0 inches of lift to 4 inches of lift. Then after you set up you angle that amount will change +/- even more depending what you have to do. On top of that change you want a margin on either side so that the spline can compress or expand without binding or being interferenced.

The good thing is that you don't have shims like a YJ leaf sping set up. For me going from a 4 inches of lift back to 0- I'd have to take out my rear shims. Same with going to 4 inches of lift from 0. I think in your situation adjustable control arms and lots of spline in your rear CV will be your friend. You will be able to adjust the pinion angle with the control arms, which can be a big part of setting up a CV shaft to a better angle.

Some things to keep in mind are: how much money your want to spend, how much time you have to do this on a weekend or a few days, what the Jeep will be used for, and whether you want someone else to do the work for you or not.

I'm wondering if a t-case drop with 0 inches of lift would help the SYE/CV to be happier. Even with 0 inches of lift I wonder if the pinion won't be pointed up enough. A
t- case drop would drop your CV shaft down to make it closer to the pinion angle just to get the angles ok until you install the lift.

good luck . . . an sYE can be on eof those difficult choices. If you have the $ and plan on really learning and getting into trails and 4wheeling then it might be better to get it done from the start. The CV/SYE can be stonger and plus you can easily remove it if there is an issue on the trail and your t-case oil stays in and you can still easily use "front wheel drive."

[yzergod]

A few questions come to mind before giving out a recommendation...

*How'd you break your driveshaft? (Could have bearing on how to replace it)
*How big a lift are you going with?
*What is your budget for all of this? Can you afford to get it all at once or do you have to piece it together like most of us?
*How quickly do you need to get your heep running? Is it your daily driver?

[brokentj]

I'll do my best to answer some of the questions posed so far:

It broke on the far aft end...basically, right at the u-joint before the differential. It broke as I was trying to drive through a small ditch and my back end hit ground then I just started hearing thwap, thwap, thwap...

I'm planning on going for the 4" Rough Country Series II.

My budget is pretty open. I want to make sure that I do things "right". I don't want a rig that is held together with duct tape and bailing twine. On the other hand, anything I can do to reasonably cut corners sounds pretty good to me.

I'd like to get it back on the road ASAP. I actually just got this thing about three weeks ago, and I'd like to sell my old car. But, I can hang on to my old ride as long as I need to to get my jeep back together.

[luckeeluke]

sorry about my long drawn out ramblings from before . . . that probably didn't help you at all . . probably wouldn't help anyone

If you choose to do SYE/CV- It would probably be easier to do the SYE and the CV at the same time as the lift. Then you could set up the angles and it would be ready to go.


Those questions that Yzergod asked are good ones. . .

everyone's situations are different sometimes it really boils down to time , money, technical skills, difficulty of trails being run, what your jeep is going to be when "finished" in terms of lift and mods (they never are finished), and why your other driveshaft broke.

[Knuckelhead]

Are you sure you don't just need a new U joint?...

[luckeeluke]

graemlins/ditto.gif to what Knucklehead said

I was thinking that all of the sudden too . .

If it is just a u-joint you can fix that for $20 and do it yourself. If the driveshaft is messed up, bent, or cracked that would be a different situation.

[brokentj]

You guys remember those old Ginsu knife commercials where they cut through the coke can? Yep, that's my driveshaft....with a couple of shards of metal twisted off here and there.

So, I don't think it's my U-joint. But, then again, I am pretty new at this game, and I might be misunderstanding exactly what all the u-joint encompasses.

I'm going over to my buddy's place (the closest place I could to the jeep) and I'll take some pictures so you guys can straighten me out.

[brokentj]

My goal when my jeep is "complete" (I'm already learning there is no such thing), is to have a very capable off road vehicle. I really am not looking for anything extreme, of course, my definition of extreme is being refined on an almost daily basis.

I'm already working on getting lockers, and I've been looking into a homegrown OBA system (step 1-learn to weld, step 2-find a job to support my habit).

So, because of that, I'm leaning toward biting the bullet and going for the new driveshaft w/ the SYE. I think I'll get the lift at the same time and just sport my old truck around town for a while.

Would it be smart to get the SYE and CV DS from Rough Country, with my lift, or are there better places I should consider?

[OhioYJ]

JB Conversions is the big name in SYEs, TomWoods is the big name in driveshafts.

My SYE came from RE as thats who my vendor could get, my driveshaft however was custom made by the local driveline shop, it was cheaper than ordering it from somewhere.

[yzergod]

Originally posted by brokentj:
I don't want a rig that is held together with duct tape and bailing twine. Why the hell not? That's half the fun (and reality) of Jeep ownership!!! :D :D :D

[jls]

http://www.4x4groupbuy.com/store/advance-adapters-slip-yoke-eliminator-drive-shaft-p-115.html?osCsid=04aaab7e453ca491215d7e19ccd75187

best price I have found.

[tinknocker]

hey man i got a rear drive shaft from a 99 tj with a dana 35 sitting in my garage that i'll sell ya for 50 bucks plus shipping!!!( i bought it after my woman broke hers but found out i had bigger problems, so i never needed it!!!)

[brokentj]

Thanks for the offer. It would be tempting, but I'm currently waiting on a new CV DS from Tom Woods and a SYE. I'm going to be installing that and my 4" lift this weekend.

It's gonna be a good time, I'm sure.

BTW guys, thanks for all of your guidance on this one!