Procedure for Measuring Shaft Length
The most important
dimension in ordering a drive shaft is the length.
This
length is expressed as the distance between the centers of the front and rear
u-joints.
To
arrive at this dimension, first raise the car off the ground, being very
careful to insure that the normal vehicle weight is being supported by the rear
suspension. (The suspension is not at full droop or unnecessarily compressed.)
Take the
slip yoke that the driveshaft will be assembled to and insert it all the way
into the tailshaft housing of the transmission. Now pull it out 3/4" to
1". This will be the free play that all driveshafts need when the
suspension moves through its full range of travel.
Carefully
measure the distance between the centers of the front and rear u-joints. Double
check the 3/4" to 1" free play in the slip yoke and measure again as
we are not responsible for wrong measurements.
This is
the length for your new aluminum drive shaft.