Center Shaft Play?

[MyBlack94GST]

Hey,

I removed my center diff with the tranny still in the car. Just for kicks, I tried to move the center shaft (the one that the center diff slides onto and which goes into the xfer case). It has about a half inch of play in and out.

What is retaining the center shaft with the diff out?

Is this play normal?

Thanks.

 

[92awddsm]

The tc input shaft is held into the tranny by a ball that tends to fall out when the vicious coupler is removed. If you look at the center diff output shaft that the vc slides onto, you will see a small hole dilled into it. A small bearing style ball drops into this hole and the vc retains it. When the vc is removed and the ball comes out, the tc input shaft will pull out of the tranny from the outside. If the ball is ever removed and not reinstalled, the shaft usually pulls out of the tranny when removing the transfer case. If it doesnt come out of the tranny, I am guessing that you are pulling it from the wrong side. Climb under the car and pull it from the outside and it will come out.

 

[MyBlack94GST]

I'm pulling it towards the passenger side wheel well. The transfer case is still on, but I've removed the center diff and the viscous coupler (including the ball in the shaft). It should slide out, no?

 

[MyBlack94GST]

OK, I'm retarded. I looked in the service manual, and the center shaft flares out on the xfer case side. So it can only be pulled out towards the driver side, under the car like you said. The play I see is it bottoming into the xfer case on one side, and the flare hitting the inside of the bellhousing on the other side.

I'll update when I pull the xfer case off. Thanks 92awddsm.

 

[92awddsm]

OK, I'm retarded. I looked in the service manual, and the center shaft flares out on the xfer case side. So it can only be pulled out towards the driver side, under the car like you said. The play I see is it bottoming into the xfer case on one side, and the flare hitting the inside of the bellhousing on the other side.

I'll update when I pull the xfer case off. Thanks 92awddsm.

You are exactly right. When the tc comes off, you will find that the shaft pulls out towards the driver side. I dont think you have anything to worry about.