HELP! Two-piece driveshaft orientation

[R0B]

As I was reinstalling my OEM two-piece driveshaft, the slip joint, slipped, and the two pieces separated. Now I'm not sure of the correct orientation to put the two pieces back together and have the entire assembly be properly phased and in balance? I've searched this forum and Google and I can't seem to find a definitive answer.

On the forward piece, I have a painted white dot in line with a raised rectangular "bar" in the metal of the yoke (see pic). I assume these are alignment marks for assembly of the two-pieces?

Unfortunately, I could find no corresponding painted white dot on the rear piece. However, I do see what looks like a pair of raised rectangular "bars" in the metal of the yoke (see pic). Could those be the alignment marks? Perhaps the single "bar" on the forward piece is aligned between the two "bars on the rear piece?

If anyone knows how to correctly align the two pieces I would very much like to hear from you. Thanks in advance!!

[TheBrightSide]

Following. I took mine out to remove my transmission recently. I marked with a marker, the orientation of the 3-bolt connections at the end, along with the rubber dampeners(?).

Does the stock 2-pc driveshaft actually just come apart in the middle like that? I didn’t even know, honestly, and I thought it was the u-joint in the middle (right where the carrier bearing was), that kept the two halves together.

[R0B]

Originally Posted by TheBrightSide

Following. I took mine out to remove my transmission recently. I marked with a marker, the orientation of the 3-bolt connections at the end, along with the rubber dampeners(?).

Does the stock 2-pc driveshaft actually just come apart in the middle like that? I didn’t even know, honestly, and I thought it was the u-joint in the middle (right where the carrier bearing was), that kept the two halves together.

I was lying on my back lifting the driveshaft into place when it slipped apart. Nobody was more surprised than me when it did! I had kind of a Back to the Future Doc Brown moment like when the power cord slipped apart "WHAT THE ....!!" I didn't know it would do that. I thought there was some kind of a locking feature that would prevent that from happening. Apparently not. It's just a slip-fit joint on a splined yoke.

[R0B]

I posted the same question over on FB. I received a reply from Daniel, who it turns out works at the company that built and supplied the Camaro driveshafts to GM. Another guy named Zach sent me a diagram of how the alignment marks are supposed to look. Talk about luck!!

To paraphrase Daniel, the index mark (the little raised metal "bar") on the slip-end of the front section is to be centered between the two index marks (the two little raised "bars") on the slip-yoke trunnion on the rear section. So, as it turns out, my theory as to how the two pieces aligned was pretty much right. What do you know ... even a blind squirrel is able to find a nut!

Thanks to everyone who helped me figure this out. Appreciate all the input from the community.

[Joe.G]

Rob, I replied to your FB post as well, Mine had come apart very easily while I had it out, I have another shaft in my shop that supposedly was never apart and I am going to see how it is aligned, and I'll verify the stock one in my car both are low mileage units. Brightside can you check yours?
Hopefully above info is correct as that would be very helpful.

[Joe.G]

Here are the pics of the shaft that came out of a low mileage car and supposedly never apart,

[R0B]

Hi Joe. Thanks for your reply. Your latest post was interesting ... or concerning ... the "alignment" marks on your shaft are 180 out from what the other guys are telling me. Oh boy ... that cast a lot of doubt on the correct setup??

I have the driveshaft back in my car ... and the exhaust too ... which was a PITA for me being that I don't have a lift and was doing it all on my back on the garage floor. I haven't driven the car yet as I'm still hooking everything up on the engine. Should be done tomorrow or the day after and then we'll take it for a test drive and see what happens. Thanks again Joe.

[Joe.G]

Please post back, May not notice anything unless its high speed.

[Moto-Mojo]

I suspect the alignment marks are for as it was balanced as a finished assembly. Dana calls this a, "System Balance." Given the flex disk ends, (Guibo) and the fact that it all operates at little to no angle, you don't have to worry about 'phasing' it. No real non uniform motion is transmitted to the diff through the center u-joint.

But if in fact it was balanced with the marks aligned like the pic, that would be inportablnt too. Nice to know about the marks.

[Joe.G]

R0B how did you make out?

[1JEWLDSSRS]

Hey Joe, Rob, I went in and checked my OEM shaft I took out of my Camaro back when I went 1pc, and it has never been apart according to my mechanic that works on my Camaro, it looks just like the first pic in this thread, and the schematic posted. The large raised "bump" on the one end aligns with the two slim raised "bumps" on the other end of the shaft. He told me that in fact that they should be installed that way. Hope this helps. I took a pic, gut my email isn't working correctly and won't let me send it.

[Joe.G]

1jewldssrs if you can please try to post pic you should be able to do it from your phone or PM me and I'll send you my cell or email if that works. Thanks

[1JEWLDSSRS]

Here is the pic I took of my DS, I have highlighted the 3 raised alignment lines on mine so you can see them, here is the pic. I know I sent it to you already Joe, just posting it for everyone else in question. Like I stated, mine has never been taken apart.

[almimono]

Originally Posted by R0B

As I was reinstalling my OEM two-piece driveshaft, the slip joint, slipped, and the two pieces separated. Now I'm not sure of the correct orientation to put the two pieces back together and have the entire assembly be properly phased and in balance? I've searched this forum and Google and I can't seem to find a definitive answer.

On the forward piece, I have a painted white dot in line with a raised rectangular "bar" in the metal of the yoke (see pic). I assume these are alignment marks for assembly of the two-pieces?

Unfortunately, I could find no corresponding painted white dot on the rear piece. However, I do see what looks like a pair of raised rectangular "bars" in the metal of the yoke (see pic). Could those be the alignment marks? Perhaps the single "bar" on the forward piece is aligned between the two "bars on the rear piece?

If anyone knows how to correctly align the two pieces I would very much like to hear from you. Thanks in advance!!

Yes, those raised bars are the alignment marks. The single bar/white dot on the front section should line up with the pair of bars on the rear section. That will properly phase the driveshaft. If it’s misaligned, you’ll get vibration.