Need help reassembling drive shaft parts

[Boris61]

Removed the driveshaft to service u joints and pulled the sliding sleeve behind flex disc off and expected to slide it back in easily when reinstalling. Not so easy! Is there a trick to this? How do I put this back in? I can't even get the shaft past the grease boot... And I have a spare driveshaft that I took it off of too just to see how it works and that one won't go back in even with the grease boot removed. Argh! Please help. Thanks!

[124JOE]

it may a spline that has to be clocked to the right key
inspect it for a wide key way

or a snap ring that you need to tap it past

[kmoses]

There is a plastic part with splines that the shaft goes through before getting to the metal splines. The plastic is tight on the shaft splines. When the shaft is removed the plastic part gets a little smaller and can rotate so that the plastic splines and the metal ones do not line up. First, put the transmission in first gear. Slide the grease boot off the yoke carefully (they are no longer being made) and put it on the shaft beyond where it would normally rest. Insert the metal shaft in the plastic part with steady pressure, you should feel the plastic give and the shaft move about 1 1/2" and stop, then add additional pressure while rotating the shaft. When the splines line up the shaft will start moving again. Slide the shaft as far as it will go and you can attach the drive shaft to the diff.

[Boris61]

Thanks! I'm gonna take the yoke out too and do this on the bench. Really hard under the car. I think sliding the boot up will make it easier. Good advice. And for anyone considering servicing the driveshaft DO NOT slide the yoke off the spline. It looks easier but the guibo disconnect route is the way to go. Five minutes with a ratchet and 19mm crows foot on a breaker bar and those three bolts are out vs. dealing with hours of frustration trying to slide a simple shaft in a very small tightly-machined hole.