Topic: Driveshaft rubbing on Ultimate Crawler

[mt_goat]

Got the front driveshaft retubed (8 1/2 " longer because of the dual cases):



After getting it all bolted back on I see there is a problem, the driveshaft double cardan joint is rubbing the Marlin dual case adapter. So back off it came and I had to grind off some of the corner of the Marlin adapter:



I only have about 3/16" clearance between the two now, hope that's enough. I had tried to contact Marlin Crawler about what to do, but they are not answering their phones again, (they had a member of the tech staff die recently, rest in peace Dean-o)  Do people not normally use a double cardan joint with Marlin Crawlers or something?  This is on a 93 ext-cab with IFS and 5" suspension lift.   It's behind a 5VZFE motor and auto trans.

[79coyotefrg]

mine rubbed on the bench, but when it was connected to the 3rd  it did not,  remember its gonna be  pulled to the right and down, 

and yes i had the double cardan joint  ,  still do

[mt_goat [OP]]

mine rubbed on the bench, but when it was connected to the 3rd  it did not,  remember its gonna be  pulled to the right and down, 

and yes i had the double cardan joint  ,  still do

Do you have IFS too, or SA?

[Willy Mammoth]

With the dual cases you may not need a CV in the front. Depends on the angle of the shaft and how much lift you have.

[79coyotefrg]

Do you have IFS too, or SA.

79,  ifs  wasnt even thought about back then

[mt_goat [OP]]

79,  ifs  wasnt even thought about back then

Oh yeah 79Coyote, I see now.  So yours only moves right and down huh?  Maybe IFS won't move at all?

[toyman1994]

ifs shouldn't move at all at the axle.  you will have a little bit of twist from the engine torque but not enough i believe you should be worried about.

[CRS]

hell you dont even need a cv with ifs i have no idea why they ever put them on there.

[BigMike]

What in the world?

Has your drivetrain shifted to the passengers side, by, say, a foot?

[BLACKDOG]

What in the world?

Has your drivetrain shifted to the passengers side, by, say, a foot?

Do you have the Marlin crossmember?  Because it has slotted mounts, you may have bolted the crosmember off center.    check that out, you may find your problem right there.

Even if that isn't the case, with IFS you don't have any noticable movement of that driveshaft.  I'm running duals with my IFS, and it is close with my adapter as well, but not interfering.  I did have to clearance the crossmember a little, but not the adapter.

Check the centering of the drivetrain

[mt_goat [OP]]

Ok you guys are kind of scaring me now.    So I took some more pics to show how centered I am.   

I've got the shifters coming up in the center of the console:




It's a Budbuilt crossmember but I made the mounts for it and I adjusted it so the shifters came up in the middle where I wanted them.  (please don't laugh at my very temporary exhaust rigging)

[79coyotefrg]

i can see right there, the shaft  actually moves to the center, instead of  to the right or straight up 

[mt_goat [OP]]

So is my IFS diff closer to the middle than a SA diff?   Will I be ok if I do a SAS later?  Will it be ok now with IFS and 3/16" clearance?   I just paid $100 to have the DS retubed and balanced so I'd kind of like to keep the CV joint.

[BLACKDOG]

So is my IFS diff closer to the middle than a SA diff?   Will I be ok if I do a SAS later?  Will it be ok now with IFS and 3/16" clearance?   I just paid $100 to have the DS retubed and balanced so I'd kind of like to keep the CV joint.

you should be just fine with the clearance you have. The minimal movement that there is shouldn't be an issue.  And from the pics, it does look pretty dang clse to center   if you've clearanced the case by 3/16" and aren't rubbing, you'll be fine.  Oh yeah, and you'll be fine when you do your SAS too, the IFS diff is closer to middle than the SA diff.

[mt_goat [OP]]

Great thanks guys!