Driveline Experts in here Please - Index Marks on Driveshaft

[Davismj711]

Ok, I had a senior moment. While replacing the carrier bearing on the drive shaft I forgot one step. I did mark the rear shaft to the first, but forgot to mark the splined hub to the front shaft.
While hoping that a previous owner somewhere down the line had done it right I found 2 marks on the splined hub. Could these possibly be the ones needed to line up with the notch in the shaft from the front drive shaft ?
I have a pic of these markings, I noticed that the shaft from my automatic had the same markings, so must be factory.

The question is, are these the correct markings to line up with the front splined shaft ?

Thanks to any and all.

IF the pic didnt load I have another thing to learn !

 

[gaboonviper85]

I question how important marking the drive shaft really is...

Dont mean to hijack but I have to get a whole new drive shaft so I too need to know if this is a big deal.

 

[Mr.PFloyd]

lining up a ds to where it was before isn't important...

 

[gaboonviper85]

lining up a ds to where it was before isn't important...

I can't tell if your being serious or sarcastic..

 

[Davismj711]

If it isn't important, then why does the Toyota Workshop Manual tell you to mark it prior to disassembly ? I admit, I missed the second marking. Thus the reason for my post.
Anyone else have any ideas here ?

Thanks
Mark D

 

[bigaaron]

It's more important on a driveshaft when it is taken apart in the middle, if the u-joints are changed 90 deg in relation to each other, they will not balance each other out.

How the flange on the diff is clocked in relation to the driveshaft flange, and where the splined end was in the transmission, doesn't really matter on a mk3.
The driveshaft rear flange is hub-centric on the diff flange kinda like a factory wheel, it's self centering.

 

[jetjock]

If it isn't important, then why does the Toyota Workshop Manual tell you to mark it prior to disassembly ?

Because it matters from a wear standpoint. Doesn't only involve drive shafts either. It's spline and gear 101.

 

[Davismj711]

Thanks bigaaron and all,

A few questions bigaarron on your response. It would certainly make the job easier if in fact I have nothing to worry about. I did take the driveshaft apart in the middle to replace the carrier bearing. The flange I have pictured slides onto the rear end of the front driveshaft and behind the carrier bearing.
The front of the rear shaft bolts to this splined flange. So its orientation on the spline would change the orientation of the front yoke ujoint and the rear shaft ujoints.
Keep in mind this is not the yoke going into tailshaft at front of driveshaft, it is in the middle. On this link you will see the pictured part behind the carrier bearing.
http://www.cygnusx1.net/Supra/Library/TSRM/MK3/manual.aspx?Section=PR&P=3

So back to original question, Do the markings on the flange have relevance to the alignment ?

Many thanks to all
Mark D

 

[bigaaron]

I'm not sure, but I would make sure to align the u-joints like they are in the picture from the tsrm.

 

[simpsons7s]

Lining the drive shaft up DOES matter. Maybe not as much as on a two piece as on a one piece shaft, that I don't know, but the process is called phasing. You have to make sure that the tailshaft u-joint and the diff u-joint line up, if they don't mate to the driveshaft in the same position that is called "being out of phase" and can cause driveshaft vibration and excessive bearing wear. You can be 180 out of phase as well so I would guess that is part of the marks.

 

[IJ.]

One of the problems with the stock "2 piece" is it's actually a "3 piece" with the rear section being a tube in a tube that's bonded with rubber.

Over the years this bond fails and the tube in a tube can and does rotate out of phase so even if you've marked it per the TRSM you can still have drivetrain roughness (usually on decell)

In the past I had good results having this bonded section removed and replaced with a tube making the shaft a true in phase 2 piece.

 

[Davismj711]

Many thanks to all that responded ! I plan to use bigaarrrons advice and line up the driveshaft in accordance to the tsrm. I will also use my refrence marks from the rear shaft to splined flange. Keeping those marks aligned and making sure all the yokes are in phase. Im guessing I have a 50/50 shot at getting it right that way.
again thanks all

Mark D