Rear Driveshaft lengths (SJ410 VS. Samurai )

[Jbird]

Found out something very interesting today....thought I'd pass it along.

I was over at "88.5 Samurai"s (Todd) house today. I had a bad vibration in my rear driveshaft due to bad u-joints and he let me borrow one of his spare driveshafts. So I was replacing the driveshaft and realized that I didn't have room for the spacers! So we got out the tape measure and my stock d-shaft was 3/4 of an inch shorter than the one he let me borrow.

The one he let me borrow was out of a '85 SJ410. I guess because of the smaller rear 3rd member in the 410, Suzuki had to make the rear driveshaft a little longer. So I didn't have to use the driveshaft spacers when I installed it in my Samurai!

I don't know if this is common knowledge or not. But I thought it was kinda cool.

[img]/wwwthreads_images/icons/cool.gif[/img]jbird88_5@yahoo.com

http://www.geocities.com/jbird88_5/index.html

[Capn_Crunch]

I have a set of SJ410 Driveshafts that are SOLID steel bars about the width of a broom handle! I know the rear is longer by about almost an inch. I was thinking about using them but I think they'd be a bear to balance...

AARRRRRRRG! 1987 Red JX 'vert, 4.5 BREEZE SPOA, SJ410 T-case, 31 BFG M/T knock offs, extended shackles (1.6 - 16V eventually)

[DougO]

I think the solid bar is from the 84 and older I believe?! Bolt pattern is smaller also, I have a set of them

DougO

88.5 Sami with 35" Goodyear MT/R's

89 Sidekick "my lil rust bucket"
ICQ 52576971

[DannyL]

85 third members are the same size as 86-up. the difference could be because of the drum brake on the t-case. But I would have thought it actually make it shorter. The 84 d-shaft is as someone else ahs stated,like a broom stick. 85 and up are tube type. I have lots of them here to know the differnce. I'll venture out tomorrow and measure them up to ssee what's up.....

UNLESS the 85 had a 1L engine in it...

DannyL

Click here for My Site!!

[88.5 Samurai]

Danny....The 85 did have a 1L engine. The driveshafts had the 12mm pattern and were the same size as Samurai shafts.

[Capn_Crunch]

So, has anyone used 410 driveshafts on their Sami. The flanges theoretically could be swapped to the later size...

AARRRRRRRG! 1987 Red JX 'vert, 4.5 BREEZE SPOA, SJ410 T-case, 31 BFG M/T knock offs, extended shackles (1.6 - 16V eventually)