I am going to go to the pick a part this weekend to look for a 2001+ Frontier Rear Drive Shaft. Having never worked on a drive shaft before, is there anything in particular I should look for, other than obvious signs of damage and abuse. Also, how big of a job is it to remove/install one? Basic set of ratchets going to do the job, or do I need to bring along something else? I will get under my truck and look at it before I go, but wanted to ask the experts first.

Not much to go wrong with a drive shaft... It could be out of balance.

Check for excessive play in the ujoints, make sure the splines on the input shaft aren't chingered up.

Basic hand tools will remove the driveshaft. ratchets and a large (18 or 19mm, I think) box end wrench to hold the nuts for the flange bolts.

If you are getting one w/ a carrier bearing, check the rubber around the bearing to make sure it isn't torn or deteriorated.

quote:

Originally posted by Sand Bag:

If you are getting one w/ a carrier bearing, check the rubber around the bearing to make sure it isn't torn or deteriorated.

He's looking for a 1-piece to eliminate the carrier bearing.

But yes, if you find one make sure the u-joints don't have a whole lot of play in them.

quote:

Originally posted by Killing4aliving:

quote:

Originally posted by Sand Bag:

If you are getting one w/ a carrier bearing, check the rubber around the bearing to make sure it isn't torn or deteriorated.

He's looking for a 1-piece to eliminate the carrier bearing.

But yes, if you find one make sure the u-joints don't have a whole lot of play in them.

Yea, should have mentioned that, trying to get rid of mine that has a bad carrier bearing. I got a quote to have mine rebuilt into a 1 piece for 240, trying to see if I can get the job done for less. Thanks for the info on the tools/procedure

You need 2 17mm wrenches to unbolt from the pinion and then just pull the slip yoke out of the Tcase.

You'll need the shaft from a 4wd 2001-2004 short bed crew cab or king cab truck. That might not be easy to find. I know the pick a part on Extension didn't have any Frontiers about 3 months ago (they may now). Another bet might be Alma Imports. I nabbed a Pathfinder driveshaft there a while back for $50.

Then there's always the junkyard row on Broadway in S. Phx.

The cheapest route is take your current D/S to a local drive shaft shop.

Tell them you want a shaft the same length without the bearing. They will cut a new piece a tube and weld it up to your slip yoke and pinion flange. You'll only pay for the tube and labor charge.

If you got the $240 quote from a D/S shop, that's high. In april or may I had a 52" shaft made for $196 which included all new parts except for the slip yoke.

quote:

Originally posted by LordBiotree:
The cheapest route is take your current D/S to a local drive shaft shop.

Tell them you want a shaft the same length without the bearing. They will cut a new piece a tube and weld it up to your slip yoke and pinion flange. You'll only pay for the tube and labor charge.

If you got the $240 quote from a D/S shop, that's high. In april or may I had a 52" shaft made for $196 which included all new parts except for the slip yoke.

Thats good to know that 240 is high... anybody know of a good DS shop here in Phoenix, preferably on the East Side? Called around to a few junk yards today and no luck finding even a frontier, let alone the right one. If its not to be had, I don't want to spend my whole weekend searching.

I could recommend an AWESOME driveshaft shop here in Tucson, but that doesn't help ya

quote:

Originally posted by Sand Bag:
I could recommend an AWESOME driveshaft shop here in Tucson, but that doesn't help ya

Not unless its price is lower by enough to pay for gas, hehe

Well, it's worth a try, lol... simmons 4x4.
http://simmonsautorepair.com/driveshafts.php

quote:

Originally posted by azorr:

quote:

Originally posted by LordBiotree:
The cheapest route is take your current D/S to a local drive shaft shop.

Tell them you want a shaft the same length without the bearing. They will cut a new piece a tube and weld it up to your slip yoke and pinion flange. You'll only pay for the tube and labor charge.

If you got the $240 quote from a D/S shop, that's high. In april or may I had a 52" shaft made for $196 which included all new parts except for the slip yoke.

Thats good to know that 240 is high... anybody know of a good DS shop here in Phoenix, preferably on the East Side? Called around to a few junk yards today and no luck finding even a frontier, let alone the right one. If its not to be had, I don't want to spend my whole weekend searching.

There's one on Southern just west of Mesa Drive. They can retube a shaft.

this may help if you dont find any

http://www.car-part.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi?userSearch=i...er=&userPage=1&iKey=

quote:

Originally posted by penski61:
this may help if you dont find any

http://www.car-part.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi?userSearch=i...er=&userPage=1&iKey=

Yea, I have been on there, and requested 3 different quotes to get one shipped to me and never hear from any of them... Have other people had luck with this service?

quote:

Originally posted by Desert Rat:
There's one on Southern just west of Mesa Drive. They can retube a shaft.

Just called these guys up and they said it would be about 150. Closer to home than the other shop as well. Thanks for the info.

Does anybody know the torque specs reinstalling my drive shaft?

Thanks