Time for a new driveshaft - OEM or Custom?

BostonJohn · **Posted:** Sat Dec 06, 2008 1:14 pm

So i've been hearing some interesting noises while in 4LO, it almost sounds like a bicycle chain thats switching gears (if that makes sense). Anyhow, after some heavy wheeling last week I now hear the sound in 2WD and pretty much all the time. After reading about some other LOST members with similar problems I figured it was my CV axles or my driveshaft. Crawled under the KJ this morning and sure enough that rubber boot on my driveshaft is all torn up. Here's a picture (sorry its kinda blurry):

So the big question is, should I just throw in a new OEM driveshaft or go for a custom Tom Woods with U-joints that others are switching to?

Wasatch15 · **Joined:** Wed Jul 13, 2005 7:52 am **Posts:** 242

Know that if you go the Tom Woods way, you will have to perform more maintenance on the driveshaft. There are 5 grease points on the shaft that will need greasing at least two to three times per year. But this shaft is WAY better then the original. You will also have to change out both companion flanges on the front differential and transfer case to U-joint yokes. I would still do it again, I have had great service from the Tom Woods shaft.

Ron

Guest · **Posted:** Sun Dec 07, 2008 1:05 am

Wasatch15 wrote:

I have had great service from the Tom Woods shaft.

That's what she said!

Seriously, though...good post. I've got a front CV on its way out it sounds like...and this crossed my mind earlier

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Sun Dec 07, 2008 1:44 am

Tom Woods shaft? This is the first I’ve heard of this??? What happened to the idea of shaving the face on the CV’s? Is this better?

Guest · **Posted:** Sun Dec 07, 2008 2:20 am

He means the driveshaft from the transfer case to the diff, not from the axle to the hub

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Sun Dec 07, 2008 2:38 am

ThunderbirdJunkie wrote:

He means the driveshaft from the transfer case to the diff, not from the axle to the hub

Ahhhhhh, that makes much more sense.

rangerd77 · **Joined:** Sat May 03, 2008 10:48 am **Posts:** 512

yes as it should make more sence since Tom Woods doesnt even make a shaft that goes from the diff to the hub "yet". but yea i have the TW rear and front shaft in my KJ, and they work great. just make sure they are balanced when you get them. you'll know if they are balanced, cuz they'll have a flat piece near the end byt the rear diff, just like stock. and also if you can get the 1330 yokes, you cant beat them

ohv_kj · **Posted:** Sun Dec 07, 2008 8:52 pm

i have a stock one i will give you...just pay shipping... i need it out of my garage

BostonJohn · **Posted:** Mon Dec 08, 2008 11:13 am

As everyone described, i'm talking about the driveshaft running from the front diff to the transfer case. The damaged portion is the rubber boot entering the transfer case.

Thanks for the offer ohv_kj, I may hit you up on that. Does it have a ton of miles on it? I just don't want to run into this problem a few months down the road which is why I'm considering going with a TW driveshaft. I hear JE Reel will make one as well. I'm going to price out all 3 options and post it up here so others with the same problem can get an idea of cost.

ohv_kj · **Posted:** Mon Dec 08, 2008 12:01 pm

no about 45000...

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Mon Dec 08, 2008 7:13 pm

BostonJohn wrote:

I'm going to price out all 3 options and post it up here so others with the same problem can get an idea of cost.

Great idea............................... :wink:

ecm3667 · **Posted:** Mon Dec 08, 2008 9:07 pm

ohv_kj wrote:

i have a stock one i will give you...just pay shipping... i need it out of my garage

If he doesn't want it I'll come pick it up from ya, I forgot all about it after this site went down.

ohv_kj · **Posted:** Tue Dec 09, 2008 9:55 am

ecm3667 wrote:

ohv_kj wrote:

i have a stock one i will give you...just pay shipping... i need it out of my garage

If he doesn't want it I'll come pick it up from ya, I forgot all about it after this site went down.

you need to come just to meet up...where do you live??? i tell you i'm leaving next week for skiing then x-mas so...if you want it...give him two days...if nothing happens then give me a call...i'll pm my number

ecm3667 · **Posted:** Wed Dec 10, 2008 5:35 pm

ohv_kj wrote:

ecm3667 wrote:

ohv_kj wrote:

i have a stock one i will give you...just pay shipping... i need it out of my garage

If he doesn't want it I'll come pick it up from ya, I forgot all about it after this site went down.

you need to come just to meet up...where do you live??? i tell you i'm leaving next week for skiing then x-mas so...if you want it...give him two days...if nothing happens then give me a call...i'll pm my number

Alrighty I'm crammed right now with finals and am headed back to Goldsboro for the break, but I'll get up with ya sometime.

BostonJohn · **Posted:** Thu Dec 11, 2008 1:02 pm

Well here's what i've got for cost figures thus far (thanks Wasatch15 for the Tom Woods info sheet):

Mopar Stock (Liberty 3.7L front driveshaft) = $387.20 (www.wholesalemopar.com)
Tom Woods custom DS w/u-joints = $433.13
JE Reel custom DS = TBD

The Tom Woods solution looks very attractive thus far.

BostonJohn · **Posted:** Thu Dec 11, 2008 1:06 pm

ohv_kj wrote:

if you want it...give him two days...if nothing happens then give me a call...i'll pm my number

Thanks again for the offer ohv_kj, I appreciate it! I'll let ecm3667 take that DS off your hands. Something tells me if I run with a used stock replacement (or even a new stock replacement for that matter) i'll be searching for a new one with-in a year.

ecm3667 · **Posted:** Thu Dec 11, 2008 10:33 pm

Don't not take the ds just because of me, its yours for the taking. Making me feel bad about saying that now.

clreinstein · **Posted:** Sun Dec 14, 2008 1:19 am

ohv_kj wrote:

i have a stock one i will give you...just pay shipping... i need it out of my garage

I could really use this stock one if its not spoken for. Mine went out this week and looked just like the picture at the top of the thread but on the transfer case side.

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Sun Dec 14, 2008 10:57 am

BostonJohn wrote:

Well here's what i've got for cost figures thus far (thanks Wasatch15 for the Tom Woods info sheet):

Mopar Stock (Liberty 3.7L front driveshaft) = $387.20 (www.wholesalemopar.com)
Tom Woods custom DS w/u-joints = $433.13
JE Reel custom DS = TBD

The Tom Woods solution looks very attractive thus far.

Where can you buy the Tom Woods? I didn't know that JE was making one too................ Cool stuff!

Hood297 · **Posted:** Tue Dec 16, 2008 8:30 pm

any updates on the JE Reel? I have gone through another rear CV boot, bought a used one about a year and 20K miles ago.

Im not screwing with another stock piece of crap. how tough is it to change out the flanges?

Time for a new driveshaft - OEM or Custom?

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