Re: [Amc-list] Good Rambler day! (big nut driveshaft loose?

[Frank Swygert <farna@xxxxxxx>]

The results are if you stop hard, but not going fast enough or so hard that the rear end of the car comes up much, you sling the driveshaft out from under the car. Did this several times on the first Rambler I had (61 American four door wagon, L-head and three speed) before I figured out that bolt had to be #$%$^% TIGHT!!! All I had was a early Chilton's manual, and no internet in 1979! A girl friend's dad used to work for the local Rambler dealer way back when (first thing he asked when I drove up in the little cracker box wagon was "do the seats fold down?" my answer: "they did, but I changed them out for some bucket seats, the originals were torn up" -- neglected to say RECLINING bucket seats though...). He told me how to keep it under the car, and how to change the driveshaft WITHOUT taking the rear axle and yoke loose. I had it down to under 30 minutes the hard way though... 

If you need to remove the driveshaft, support the rear axle with jack stands so the car's weight is on the springs. Then get under and take the caps off the u-joint, the ones in the axle yoke. Twist cross and drop shaft. It's a bit tight, but much easier than taking the rear axle loose and messing with that big nut! If you don't support the axle you can't get the driveshaft out. The axle moves forward just enough hanging from the springs that the shaft won't come out. If it seems tight the yoke may have moved forward on the pinion splines (measure to check). If it has, drive it back. If not, either jack up the front so the car is level or add weight to the trunk. Compressing the leaf springs will move the rear axle back up to 1/2". 

----------------
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008 11:51:10 -0800 (PST)
From: Tom Jennings <tomj@xxxxxxx>

I realize that mechanically, with the rear yoke not gripping the
splines tightly, the driveshaft can float fore and aft. That's
certainly not as designed, but I wonder what the downside is
to leaving it loose?

-- 
Frank Swygert
Publisher, "American Motors Cars" 
Magazine (AMC)
For all AMC enthusiasts
http://farna.home.att.net/AMC.html
(free download available!)

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