Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

I didn't pay attention when I pulled my drive shaft. I have to go back under and check mine out.

I foundout, by mixing up the parts between different 5 speed drive shafts, they are not all exactly the same. It is close, I ended up with the shaft in a vise and a bubble level across to yokes and trying all the different combos of 3 driveshafts to get the set most in phase,and they will be slightly more or less in phase by rotating the part 180 degrees and re-installing. It's really cheap to get a driveshaft balanced, and well worth it, next time mine is out, it will get done.

dbrick wrote: Mon Feb 19, 2018 10:04 pm I foundout, by mixing up the parts between different 5 speed drive shafts, they are not all exactly the same. It is close, I ended up with the shaft in a vise and a bubble level across to yokes and trying all the different combos of 3 driveshafts to get the set most in phase,and they will be slightly more or less in phase by rotating the part 180 degrees and re-installing. It's really cheap to get a driveshaft balanced, and well worth it, next time mine is out, it will get done.

Very much agreed! LAst time I had mine out, they replaced both u-joints and balanced it for under $100. (I supplied the U-Joints).

Dout!! now you tell me!! Well at least now I know...”and knowing is half the battle...gooo Joe!” Sorry childhood flash back

I completely neglected to mark anything before pulling mine. How far apart would you have to pull the two pieces of the shaft before they potentially rotate (ie, how long are the splines)? Also, is there an issue with aligning the same mounting points of the trans and diff?

IIRC, the matching driveshaft pieces on a 2000 are marked with a lightly stamped O to show alignment.

spl310 wrote: Sat Feb 24, 2018 12:08 pm IIRC, the matching driveshaft pieces on a 2000 are marked with a lightly stamped O to show alignment.

The next time I am under my car I'll try to capture that. RoadsterMike has his U20 engine & trans out now, maybe I ask him to take a photo of the "O"s.

I've seen them and they do exist but you have to look hard to find them

Yes, the "O" exists,It's not a myth!
I think the problem comes when front and back shaft halves are mixed, assuming they are factory balanced as a unit.

I am reviving this thread just hoping to get a bit of clarity. Too much research has me confused, which seems to happen much easier these days. I have 2 of the 5 speed drive lines and will be doing a 5 speed conversion this winter. I wanted to make sure when I put it together everything is phased correctly. So I did find all four of the "0's" on both drivelines and have them as close to being in the same plane as possible. What I am finding is that the closest I can get them to parallel is off by about 3° to 5°. One of the shafts has had the rear U joint replaced and all other joints are original. I have the shaft set up in the vice and using my inclinometer I set the rear yoke, on the drive line, to zero and then moving to the yoke at the trans end of the slip joint it is off by almost 3° on one of the shafts and 5°on the other. Is this enough to cause vibrations or will balancing take care of that or am I just too picky and worried about nothing. When looking at the drive lines, from the trans end, both yokes on the slip joint are rotated clockwise.

I would look into taking it to a driveshaft specialist - a local driveline/jeep specialist in Winston-Salem replaced the u-joints, clocked it, painted and balanced it for $100.
Well worth it to me not to have to worry about it.