Double Cardan Drive Shaft Restoration/Rebuild

Here's another installment in my restoration video series on project rustbox (Cherokee XJ). This one is the front driveshaft in which the slip-yoke is on the driveshaft itself instead of between the transfer case and driveshaft like my first (rear) driveshaft video. This one also features a double cardan joint which is basically just a double u joint. As a result it's a little bit tougher to rebuild, but it's still pretty easy if you have a decent ball-joint/u-joint tool. Most people wouldn't replace the inner socket joint, but I did it because these videos are for entertainment purposes anyway. If you're watching/reading this you've also probably seen my Dana 30 Front Driveshaft Rebuild video, but on the off chance you haven't, please check out that video as well.
Towards the end of the video I lost a lot of the audio due to me being a moron, and I had to re-shoot a lot of the u joint re-installation. This is why the rubber seals on the caps magically changed from black to blue. Some of the footage I couldn't re-shoot, so there is about 30 or 40 seconds without any audio.
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[@Basslicks82]

Always a pleasure watching your videos. No fluff, no showy production crap...just informative, entertaining, and relaxing. Thank you, my man.

[@stallionranchwoodworks]

Now that's how you make a step by step video to do a double cardan joint. This is the best video out there.

[@ryanhoaglin9907]

Wow. Great and masterful demo without any distracting music or dialog. I've been doing u joints with a vice for years and this looks much less stressful. Thank you for a great video.

[@mark_osborne]

So true ! I'm about to break out my ball joint press !!!

[@JohnResciniti]

This was a fun one. Driveshafts should all be looking like that. I have pretty much the same on my Ford Explorer, but the double cardan is on the rear driveshaft too. I was almost thinking "hey this guy built up his explorer too!" we are a rare, weird breed us 4x4 explorer enthusiasts! Good work!

[@greengohm]

Hey, you dented MY driveshaft!

[@lucyxchan6808]

No you dented MY driveshaft!

[@FasterBastard1]

MY driveshafts dented too!

[@xj_overlander]

Always great to watch these. Seems like you post a restoration project right when I’m about to work on something, gives me a good idea on something else to clean up!

[@wileycoyotesr8623]

Love watching someone work with proper tools. Excellent work and video.

[@grahampickering1560]

I'm really looking forward to the next installment 🙂🚗🛠

[@korvtm]

Good video.Every time I see one of these I am reminded of the time back in the early 80's I was in a shop that made drive shafts,to pick up one the we needed.Guy came in carrying a drive shaft that was twisted so badly that it was almost flat in places.Said driver tried to move truck brakes were frozen,driver simply rev'd engine up to goverened speed,then,with tranny in lowest gear,dumped the clutch.Driver was looking for a new job,Mech was cursing the fact that he had to work outside in very cold weather.

[@RescueRestoration]

This is the best Editing and Restoration video on KZbin 🤩🥳, i love it😍

[@tomc8157]

Good timing! I'm restoring my 96 Dak 4x4 and its the same drive shaft. Excellent info

[@wethomas8911]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Your video was truly beneficial to me being confident in successfully tackling and completing my front driveshaft rebuild. Much gratitude.

[@jamesbenedict6819]

Gonna rebuild mine here soon since the double cardan ball has started squeaking and everything is original. This video definitely will help and you made it look so simple!

[@samsanfillipo9212]

Great video! By far the best one I've seen yet. I like the detail and cleanliness that you put into your work. I'm getting ready to do the same job. I've never done the double cardan shaft before until no. Thank you for your video I'm sure many others will enjoy it as well. Keep wrenching!

[@RestorationStation]

Hope your retaining clips aren't as rusted in as mine were

[@pauldionne1665]

Great job, LOVE the magic hand. Looks better and performs like factory and must be so quiet.

[@choad000]

I like videos of people that are just good at shit. No music, no life story just info. Thank you.

[@dinakarsoul]

So satisfying to watch this . Always been fascinated with automobile repair works and this was so professional 🙏👌

[@98FleXJ]

That a good sounding XJ, clean as can be underneath too

[@aaronbrandes7456]

Well made video. Great production quality. At first I was certain that shaft was the rear shaft from a TTB era Bronco but obviously it is not.

[@308scoutrfl]

Congratulations,sir. You've created a perfect instructional video. Thank you

[@tonye4176]

Stunning work Wish all mechanics did this

[@bertgrau9246]

I did one of those on a 76 Cadillac, I didn't have the nice tools, but it really wasn't a bad job. I didn't bead blast and paint though . Very good job SIR

[@Mike-su8si]

Neither did we last year so it'll just keep on rusting

[@70rrsteve51]

THANK YOU!! I have to rebuild mine from a ‘99 Dakota…and now I have some confidence to give it a shot.

[@MegaDargar]

If you needed a video to rebuild a driveline, then you probably shouldn't be doing it. They are not hard, but this video makes it seem too easy. U joints never are this easy. I pretty much always cut them in half cause the caps never come out where I live. So much salt on the roads in the winter.

[@70rrsteve51]

@@MegaDargar Thanks for the helpful input, but I’ve just finished the project. Good thing I didn’t take your advice to give up before starting. This is an ex-Yukon Dakota, so there wasn’t the rust that you’d likely have had to deal with.

[@MegaDargar]

@@70rrsteve51 where I live they spray a salt brine on the roads in the winter, and it just destroys cars... Stuff gets in every knook and cranny and rots everything out

[@robertbaker1914]

Great Job; Thanks for sharing, from Stanbridge East Qc Canada

[@iles1995]

Magnificent Job. Say no more!

[@kawasakiwhiptwo5821]

I missed where you dented your drive shaft. Maybe I wasn't watching close enough. Great restoration as always.

[@gaming632]

this video is most relaxing ASMR video. love from India bro.❤️❤️🥰

[@Notkyle388]

Love the jeep vids very much! Great job!

[@RESTORATIONOFSCRAPMETAL]

Cool job 👍 Now I know how to disassemble the driveshaft :)

[@bendavis1392]

Im rebuilding a cj2a and i love your videos

[@NickHockaday]

When you do your first sand blast/rust remover/ silver coat, what is it? Is it like blasting it to raw metal or painting because it looks really good.

[@Garth2011]

I believe Dodge 4x4 Trucks had those damn U joints which can cause a major damage issue if and when that double joint fails because of lack of grease every 5,000 miles. Depending on the year, those 4x4 systems got designed to always turn because they decided to control engagement at the hubs vs. inside the transfer case. So, this eliminated "free wheeling" on the front drive gear thus, always turning and in need of servicing not to mention unnecessary drag on the drivetrain when in 2x4. Ford did the same thing and they both also changed the front wheel bearings to a unit and single bearing design which would also fail around 60,000 miles because the design couldn't hold up with the side to side forces.

[@ecoshah]

thanks, your the first of a dozen cardan video rebuild that actually goes beyond the universal joints and fixes the cardan itself. I got a 68 buick electra. No replacement parts or kits available anymore. Any ideas?

[@jberzin3]

Need to mark balance for the 2part ones ;) Great rebuild!

[@williamowens1325]

No he dont

[@williamowens1325]

It's a front driveshaft for a split axle diff. It doesn't turn all the time. When it does turn it's going very slow because the vehicle will be in 4wd so the imbalance will not show that much or make much a difference. I love how so many people try to tell this guy he did something wrong or left something out though. Know your vehicles. If your response is "I've been doing this all my life" it still don't matter.

[@SilverBullet93GT]

3:00am, watching driveshaft restoration video 3:01am cellphone falls from hand on face 3:01:05 continues watching restoration video

[@RCHut]

Love your work man!!

[@brzibung]

impressive video shots under the car. Have you considered using vinegar oe electrolysis to remove the major rust from the components?

[@desertdefender]

What press are you using? It seems to work well. I have a big Snap-on ball joint press but it’s much harder to finesse and I messed up a u-joint trying to get it in.

[@jeffbrown3963]

You're missing the part where the bolt heads round off and won't come loose and you wind up changing the differential yoke. And then the snap rings turn to dust when you try to remove them. Lol Other than that a perfect video - we'll done!

[@carl2591]

not a word was spoken as he tore it all apart.. classic..

[@mrsunyofficial]

VERY USEFUL VIDEO !

[@user-dq7hn7yc2h]

Отличная работа ..мастерская !)

[@oneshotme]

Here's another installment in my restoration video series on project rustbox (Cherokee XJ) So is this clean a rusty spot at a time?? LOL It's looking under there along with the newest job. Had to do that before but with out a sand blaster Great job!! Enjoyed your video and I gave it a Thumbs Up

[@carlostapia3512]

Great work 👏🏼 made my job easier thank you for your knowledge 👍🏼

[@motomuso]

Bravo and well done sir!

[@benvin10365]

An oddly relaxing and satisfying video.

[@patriciareynolds2729]

good looking ujoints. what brand are they, the blue ones. dont see many greaser holes like that, if it takes grease wont some air have to be displaced?

[@andrzejporeda7281]

Przepiękne jest ten cały wałek odrestaurowany pozdrawiam serdecznie 👍👍👍👍👍

[@BrothersRestorationIndustry]

Great job 👍

[@paulroe4646]

Awesome video my friend thanks for sharing

[@bradyrodgers1731]

Most enjoyable videos that I've ever seen!

[@SUROBLEDEKchannel]

Nice job👍

[@Houndini]

They little pain to replace. But great set-up. I love mine on lifted 79 Bronco. Last long time if greased properly..

[@everaldolima3705]

Serviço de qualidade.

[@slyfoxxx55]

wow that's what i call a reel video !!! super !!! love it!! thumbs up

[@Joe-ib3wc]

Do you consider Moog brand parts to be of good quality? I have used their suspension parts for years but alot of people say Moog parts have really went downhill recently.

[@larryyazzie4378]

Nice job .. thx for sharing 👍

[@hybrid_hawkins7206]

2:41 I wasn't expecting that to come out! Lol!

[@anthonysmigelski9219]

Nice job.👍

[@stevanrose7439]

Are these parts available for other vehicles with a cardan joint. My Tacoma has one. That may need replacing some day.

[@hoversauce1785]

I was hoping to see the footage of you trying to get the right U-Joints. 😂😂

[@Houndini]

Pretty simple if auto part store are not a bunch of idiots will not listen. They call me more than I call them on few items. Nobody knows it all. See somebody is a expert on everything . Run the other way.

[@user-wb3lp6yv4v]

Отличная работа👍👍👍

[@linustha5675]

Is a very minimal play in the middle part (middle slip yoke?) normal for this kind of shaft? Jeep ZJ with dana 30, 242 and douple cardan front shaft (also little play in the front output shaft - rattles like crazy

[@shaygarriock3165]

Hi, great video! Can you tell me what the seal is called that you install at 11:01? Thanks so much!

[@redeyeboy100]

Job well done 👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@rodneythompson2857]

I need to rebuild mine. I found the stuff for the double cardan, but can't find the part for the front.im not sure what to search for!! Any help would be appreciated. Thank you

[@magcv92]

Nice videos, could you share where to buy the rebuild kit parts with us please? cheers

[@zack9785]

This video smells an awful lot like a Canadian made it, I’m getting a whiff of that AvE in there. Anyways great video “Restoration Station”.

[@RestorationStation]

I'm about 8 hours drive from Canadia, so you're not too far off

[@phantomwalker8251]

@@RestorationStation if you said,gideye,heres how to.. youd be ausie.

[@phantomwalker8251]

@@RestorationStation if thats the prop shaft,id hate to see the chassis.. didnt quite get a c clip all the way once,didnt notice, came out 50 miles from home..

[@rugbytcheco]

Thenks again for your videos. May I ask you the part number for the ball's rubber boot, please? Thank you

[@MetalRestorationBho]

Great my friend! This is a masterpiece. Congratulation from Vietnam.😉👍🍺

[@missuenos3012]

pppppppp0

[@jeffr0]

Wayyyyyy better than new!

[@devas522]

Great video very detailed

[@remembergodisalwayswithyou6862]

Hello from Morocco nice job bro 💟

[@banshanllyngdoh277]

At 11:18 I have the exact component on my car. As it is located within the shaft, with no lubricating access, it gets damaged very often. Squeaky noises would eventually start. What is the role of this particular component? I intend to remove the ball socket entirely. Is it advisable to run the car without this component?

[@American_Jeeper]

I like these videos. I forget, is your XJ Ma Mopar or AMC? When I finally get started on my CJ-5, you’re going to laugh when you see how short my drive shafts are.

[@jpboileau5473]

Good job. The only thing I would do differently is to mark the two parts of the driveshaft so that it can be reassembled the same way is was taken apart, since you didn't rebalance it. Just something to keep in mind.

[@almolloy5817]

X2. I use a centre punch on the yoke ears.

[@tywarren4704]

I have a 1994 Dakota which shares a ton of components with Jeep's of the same era & has a very similar front driveshaft. If his is like mine, there's a spot in the splines that makes it so that there's only one way to put them back together.

[@williamowens1325]

It's a split axle. He don't have to worry about balance since the driveshaft doesn't turn all the time like a TJ front end. The only time this will turn is in 4wd going slow so the minor imbalance won't even show.

[@ibuildengines]

What is the tool you are using to press the joint out of the shaft? I’d like to purchase one.

[@RHBronco]

What do you call that bearing assembly that goes in the middle of the double cardan end, between the two u-joints? I rebuilt my Bronco driveshaft, but I didn't realize that was in there before I started, so I just cleaned it up and re-greased it. It didn't look like it would have come out.

[@michaelharris1455]

it's called the centering joint. if you don't have a vibration, I wouldn't worry about it.

[@Miricrafts]

Hard work but very nice result 👍

[@mark_osborne]

thank you so much ! I just did this job thanks to your guidance :-)

[@tarzan30809]

Thanks for the video! I have a 1974 Jeep J10 and it needs this work :(

[@danbegay3646]

I ordered a front driveshaft for a 78 Bronco and I was sent one with bigger U-joints at each end. Can I just swap the yokes at the transfer case and the front diff?

[@markroth9827]

Thank you for your video.

[@rayss3323]

Beautiful work! Just once I'd like the opportunity to do it like that, and not on the side of the trail with a socket and hammer. Thx!

[@ilhamdjs]

After seeing this video I wish I have the courage to do restoration of my Suzuki Sidekick undercarriage 😅

[@user-qg9eb3xd3m]

Does anybody have the part number/s for the center shaft pieces where the two slip together?

[@jeffevans254]

Great job! Except you didn't index the driveline before disassembly so is the drive line still balanced?

[@williamowens1325]

It's a front driveshaft. Pretty sure it's a yj. So that being said a yj front driveshaft doesn't turn all the time since it's split axle. It only turns in 4wd. People don't normally go at a speed in 4wd that would make that big of a difference with a minor imbalance. so let me say that this may be the only video on all of KZbin that answers people question about the front driveshaft grease seal and shows them how to change it. Excellent video from a clearly experienced mechanic. Just appreciate the video dude. If you want one with someone making the marks on the yoke and line and splines and talking for 45 minutes then maybe you can make one. Then people have a mostly balanced front driveshaft for their yj even though it won't matter

[@mightymikee]

​@@williamowens1325 He shows his XJ on his rear driveshaft restoration video.

[@PrestonSteele]

Great work

[@jamisonhuntington7317]

Glad im not the only one that wears white ox gloves in the shop.

[@harshabiliangady3211]

Job well done.

[@norbert881]

Das ist wirklich klasse

[@treecityrenovations3729]

What’s the name of that wire brush you used to clean the female splines?

[@Smiley10070]

Was there a “parts kit”?

[@gabrielpadilla7508]

Sweet. I knew that was an xj as soon as i saw the tcase. Nice rig man. Manual with high pinion d30and 33s just like mine

[@keithkrestakos429]

Do you happen to have the part number for the dust cap on the slip yoke?

[@johnbrooks7144]

What is the purpose of that spring? I cannot get mine together with that spring installed. When I took it apart, there was no spring. '67 K20 pickup.

[@cbelmares]

Could you tell me what the replacement for the center of the double knot is called please, or where I can buy it?

[@davidhigle5427]

What kind of fluid is he using to clean the parts?

[@aaronerickson8878]

Are all 3 ujoints the same? O'm ordering ujoints for my 92' and am very confused on the sizes..,

[@ELKARLOS0116]

When those roller pins went flying i cried a little