Rear driveshaft replacement opinions

had some driveline vibrations so brought my truck in to Toyota. Figured it was u joints and would be covered under the extended warranty that went out a while ago. Tech came back and told me the entire rear driveshaft is bad and needs to be replaced. $1300. Wondering if I should go ahead and do this or what other options I may have. Is this something doable for a backyard mechanic If I bought a new driveshaft?

 

Well don’t pay $1300 whatever you do.

I’ve read members on here quoting $400-$600 for a custom driveshaft.

I’ve removed my driveshaft looking for vibes, you’d be able to install one in under an hour if you have any mechanical inclination.

 

Dunno about you, but I've got a local driveshaft shop that I don't think has ever charged me more than $300 to make a new one, usually less.

If you get one with new flanges at the ends, it's just bolts. Cheaper way would be to have it made with just yokes, and replace the U-joints and reuse the old flanges, but that means either having the truck down while it's made, or doing U-joints yourself... which ain't rocket surgery, but it's also not the simplest job, especially if the old joints are rusted in good. They're easy with a torch, vise, and air chisel. It's doable with less, just less easy...

I'd be having a one-piece made if your only other option is dealer coin. The rear shaft isn't long enough to really need the carrier bearing. Of course, I'd also be asking exactly why the current one is fooked... my guess is the CB is gone, and IIRC Toyota doesn't service it separately from a whole new shaft. Could be mistaken on that last part.

 

A shop quoted me at $1500 for a custom shaft.

I’m sure there’s plenty of rust down there. Just had the frame replaced a month ago.

 

A custom shaft doing what, exactly? Re-tubing and rebuilding the factory parts? Making a replacement 2-piece with new parts? (Hopefully) making a bitchin' high-angle that'll hold up to 30+ degrees even though you don't need it at all? I hope it's that last one, for that price...

If you have a 1-piece made and re-use your old flanges, it's a couple common Spicer yokes, a slip, and some tube...

 

Tom Woods in Utah - look him up online and fill in the exact shaft measurement (tells you how to do it) and you will get a 1 piece heavy driveshaft with greaseable u-joints. http://www.4xshaft.com/
They have normal type with u-joints for lifts up to 3" and double cardan for higher and read site info on their results and you can call and talk to them. I got one years ago and Dakar springs and can haul and tow and never a vibration or shutter again - got sick of Toyota dealer BS. Price around $400-$450 range.

 

That I don’t know, was just a quick phone call. He also said he doubts I need a driveshaft and Toyota just doesn’t want to replace single parts and it’s easier to just stick a whole new assembled piece in.

 

I also don’t do any crazy off roading and no lift. Went up a size in tires and heavy beach driving is all.

 

Get one made. A quality shop should cost 400-600. 1300 that’s crazy!!

 

That’s installed price? Not that I doubt it, but I live in NY. Some guy tried to charge me $390 for pads and rotors!

 

I paid $450 for a local driveline shop to build a custom one piece rear driveshaft and had my buddy install it for me after my carrier bearing bit the dust. I’d been dealing with annoying vibrations ever since lifting the rear of the truck and that was the best money I’ve spent to date.

 

Had the same thing happen to a buddy a couple years ago. Stealership wanted to replace the whole driveshaft. LOL Told him to get the F out the there fast. He had another repair shop replace all u-joints, balance and install for around $400.

 

Went to the driveline guy. U joints and hanger bearing he said, $465, but I opted for the better u joints he said will last longer. That was if he needs to do all 3 plus the bearing but feel like he might as well do it all while it’s being worked on.

 

I'm skeptical you need an entire new driveshaft. Unless it has a giant dent in it or the splines are shot, what else is there besides the u-joints?

If you are going to replace the carrier bearing, get the Spicer part. There's a recent thread on this.

 

Go dig out that warranty extension document you received on the driveshaft and read the fine print. If I recall correctly, replacement of the whole driveshaft was covered too in scenarios where replacing u-joints/carrier bearings wouldn't suffice? Could be wrong.

For what it's worth; I just replaced the u-joints, carrier bearing, and slip joint boot on mine. I don't think I spent $200 in parts for everything, all Spicer brand.

 

Yea he’s using all spicer, I’m not very mechanical besides basic stuff so I don’t mind paying the labor to have it done correctly.

As far as warranty that does sound like should be covered, but I don’t have time to deal with them at this point. Would Toyota ever reimburse somebody for something like that.

 

No time to go review a piece of paper? Paying $465 to your driveshaft guy is a better option than paying $1300 to Toyota, but if it's free?

...and yes, in that same piece of warranty extension paperwork, it does state that Toyota could reimburse for driveshaft repairs not performed by Toyota. But if you don't have time to review that now, you won't have time for it later.

 

I don’t mean time to read the paper, I mean time to call Toyota corporate and try to resolve this. Obviously I said this to the dealer yesterday. But they’re sticking with it’s the drive shaft and not the u joints that are the problem.

 

It'd be worth it to me, if I were in your shoes, to call corporate first and try to avoid spending $465.

Shitty pic, but here's the owner's manual insert for the driveshaft warranty extension. You can see where it states "In limited instances the Propeller Shaft may also be replaced if damaged due to the universal joint condition described above."



But you do you, boo. You do you.

 

Go to a Driveline shop and have them rebuild it,costs about $300 bucks for everything balancing included.