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Driveshaft curiosity

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jschweitz View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jschweitz Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Driveshaft curiosity
    Posted: Jul/13/2018 at 9:25pm
Thanks for the education. Will certainly come in handy when I get a new driveshaft made.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 6PakBee Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jul/13/2018 at 9:55am
When I get a driveline worked on (shortened, yoke replacement, new fabrication, etc.) I always check the yoke alignment.  I machined a pair of pins that are a light hand press fit in the yokes.  I then use a level to set one end and an angle protractor to check the other end.  Any reading other than 0 on the protractor indicates some misalignment.  I've found any other method to be inaccurate.  I stress the importance of this to the shop that does my work and for the most part they hit it within a degree.  I did send one back that was 10 degrees off.

As to the rubber insert, my guess is a vibration dampener but that is only a GUESS.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote billd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jul/12/2018 at 10:21pm
You are correct in that they are supposed to be "clocked" as you say - however, I can give you the name and address of a place that makes, repairs, etc. drive shafts, including custom for racing, and on their walls they have hanging oddities they have found.
One is from a GM product, I think they said Camaro or something like that, that had the yokes totally off, not just a few degrees, and they said it was driven like that for a long time before it ended up in their shop for OTHER reasons.
What you have found is likely a mistake..........
I have seen 'em myself, but the one they had hanging was waaay off. They had other examples of factory screw-ups.
Large car, small car, doesn't matter other than that the longer cars and thus longer driveshafts are more forgiving. Try that with an Eagle and you'll wreck the car with stress fractures from the vibrations. 
So in short, the big cars still are supposed to have the same rules, the same alignment, just that longer shafts with less angle to them can get by with bigger screw-ups like that.
I did a ton of research on drive shafts, angles, joints and more - and have info from Mercedes, Spicer and others on the topic as i was trying to figure out why my Eagle had a shake in a limited road speed range, worked with pinion angles, even bought the tools to check the angles, works with shims, and had my Eagle driveshaft professionally rebuilt to perfection.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 304-dude Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jul/12/2018 at 7:19pm
I never seen the matador drive shaft, but have seen a number of slider shafts that allow for extension or compression for fitment, more than travel, the yoke is usually long enough.

401matcoupe will probably give more info about how AMC clocked the ends for large bodied cars. Farna may have some info as well.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jschweitz Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jul/12/2018 at 7:09pm
I have a driveshaft from a 1978 Matador wagon.  Cutting it up as a temporary to move my Javelin.  I noticed two things.

1.  The yokes are off by about 15 degrees.  I thought that was a no-no in driveshaft world.  It doesn't appear to be twisted.
2.  There is a 10 inch or so long inner steel tube located at one end.  It was held in place with a rubber sleeve.

Any thoughts as to why the yokes are not aligned and what the inner tube is for??

Thanks in advance.
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