I am getting ready to have the drive shaft for my 55 f-100 cut to length. I was told by the shop that is going to do the cutting/welding/balancing where to take the measurements from (middle of rear U joint to the end of the tailshaft).... the question is...should the weight of the truck be on the rear axle? Right now its up on jackstands that are on the frame and the rear end is hanging with the springs extended.
Yes ,i would have it sitting on the wheels to measure it or atleast put the jack stands under the rear axle to simulate it...
Should not matter ether way, but a more accurate measurement is from the rear transmission seal to the center of the cup were the u-joint sits! do you follow that?
I always measured them as it sits on all 4 tires on level ground. This is smack dab in the middle of travel. As far as where to measure it to, the rear of the tailshaft is right, the other end is not important as long as the shop does the same thing every time, this is their point of reference. Bob
end of the tailshaft seems a little vague to me...there are numerous different yoke and they may end up with different lengths of driveshaft depending on how much is sticking out....what I have been told is to stick the yoke in until it bottoms out and then pull it out 3/4" and measure centerline to centerline of the Ujoint cups.
yes it matters..the truck must be at ride height,,on the ground or with a jack under the rear so it is loaded,,,the correct way too measure is from the tranny seal too the center of the u joint witch is the flat of the half moon....when installled the should be 3/4 to 1 inch of free play in the front of the shaft.....any questions call me at nassau driveshaft
brewsirs way is the correct way to go about it. i've been doing it that way for years and its never failed or caused any problems.....
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