CARDAN joint. A few questions

[will e]

1. Do we really need on on the front of a part time transfer case?
2. Does the transfer case care if it is being attached to a cardan vs a regular u-joint?

[tgreese]

1. Do we really need on on the front of a part time transfer case?
2. Does the transfer case care if it is being attached to a cardan vs a regular u-joint?

1. Probably not. CJs don't use them, and their front driveshaft has more of an angle and is shorter. Only thing I can think of is a smoothness/noise issue?
2. No, not that I can think of.

[Jeepguy77]

Double cardans create less vibration, when you have a short driveshaft. If you have hubs it's not really needed since it doesn't spin all the time. But with drive slugs or a full time case, a single u joint will vibrate more at highway speeds.

[Ristow]

the driveshaft angle is set up for a double cardan. probably not an issue at low offroad speeds.

the angles will be wrong (not equal) for a regular shaft.

[fulsizjeep]

Here is my thought. They came with them. So why tempt fate? Keep it lubed. It is written.

[joe]

Here is my thought. They came with them. So why tempt fate? Keep it lubed. It is written.

I'm kinda with Flint on this. It didn't come with that because they tried to make the car more expensive. Years ago about the late seventies. I went cheap on a front shaft on I think a 71 Chev shortbox (part-time tcase unlocking hubs etc). Yes it worked sorta but from then on I was buying u-joints by the six pack. Went through more u-joints than oil filters. Just fix the dbl cardan, keep it lubed and you're good for another 100,000 plus miles.

[J20 project]

If your rig is stock height..ehh you can probably get away w/o it being there.
That being said, if your rig is lifted and you spend any time at all on icy roads.....keep the double cardan....period.

J20 project

[tgreese]

If your rig is stock height..ehh you can probably get away w/o it being there.
That being said, if your rig is lifted and you spend any time at all on icy roads.....keep the double cardan....period.

J20 project

That seems backwards. If anything, lift is going to change the angle at the axle, and make the geometry worse for a double Cardan (DC).

At stock height, the geometry is right: angle across the DC, and straight in for the axle end. With some lift, the pinion angle is turned down some, making the angle at the axle worse for the driveshaft.

I'm not advocating getting rid of the DC joint ... but the geometry expects the driveshaft to go straight in to the pinion. If it doesn't, you may as well have a conventional driveshaft and limit yourself to low-speed operation.

[jeepfan93]

Ok I'll throw this in there. I'm in the same boat as WillE. He's already lifted, I'm going SOA soon. I know an XJ shaft will bolt in. I don't know that Will is lifted enough, but after doing a cut and turn on the front axle, is the axle right for a DC? Stock driveshaft is to short for SOA? I personally will be going locking hubs but keeping the 229, for now.

[J20 project]

That seems backwards. If anything, lift is going to change the angle at the axle, and make the geometry worse for a double Cardan (DC).

Ok your logic seems sound,,but I found this to be the case from experience that mine worked better this way......it cuts the angle in half compared to what he would be doing w/ a single joint.

I can assume from your experience this to not be the case?

Now, most folks who lift their rig lots typically purchase and install high angle cv dshafts. They do however point their pinions at the tcase though.

J20

[Mr. Goatman]

Ok I'll throw this in there. I'm in the same boat as WillE. He's already lifted, I'm going SOA soon. I know an XJ shaft will bolt in. I don't know that Will is lifted enough, but after doing a cut and turn on the front axle, is the axle right for a DC? Stock driveshaft is to short for SOA? I personally will be going locking hubs but keeping the 229, for now.

I just finished an SOA and the stock shaft will stretch out and bolt in. I would be afraid to wheel it though, there is no extra shaft to play with

[will e]

I just finished an SOA and the stock shaft will stretch out and bolt in. I would be afraid to wheel it though, there is no extra shaft to play with

That is a lot of stretch for your stock shaft. Even driving down the streets your shafts are limiting your suspension movement. This is hard on the TC. You should probably fix this as soon as possible.

[68glad]

1. Not needed but does cut down the angle on the t-case side ujoint. DC have a slightly higher operating angle.
2. The t-case don't care which joint is used but the yoke does.

[Heimeken]

Actually the transfercase does care. A straight shaft will create more stress at high angles, so you will put more stress on the output bearing. At low speeds this may be un-noticeable, but if you have to pickup speed the bearing will whine.

[68glad]

Actually the transfercase does care. A straight shaft will create more stress at high angles, so you will put more stress on the output bearing. At low speeds this may be un-noticeable, but if you have to pickup speed the bearing will whine.

Agreed about driveline angle making a difference but how they attach don't matter as long as the yoke matches.