I searched, but did not find info on how to disconnect the driveshaft, so here's what I learned.
The only place to disconnect it is at the differential.
I jacked up one side of the truck, settled it on two jack stands, then put the jack under the driveshaft so it wouldn't attempt murder when it came loose. Ilsa's a sweet girl, but she can get feisty sometimes.
At the universal joint that connects to the differential, there are four bolts with small connectors between each pair. Yep, this is where it all happens.
Using 7/16" socket and box-end wrenches, I loosened them. From now on, I was careful to support the shaft since it could (but probably wouldn't) come down when the bolts were off.
After taking all four bolts off, the shaft remained firmly in place. It needed to be moved toward the front of the truck in order to be loosened. The driveshaft connection at the tranny is free, and there is room for the shaft to go forward a bit, but it probably won't come loose without some persuasion.
I used a small crowbar, but any type of wrecking bar or even a big screwdriver would probably work. This is where you really need to be ready for a heavy piece of metal to try to come home to Mother Earth.
It didn't take much persuasion to pry the shaft back towards the tranny. Even though I had a jack under it, it still came down far enough and quickly enough to cause considerable consternation and a few expletives from me. It probably wasn't an enjoyable experience for Ilsa either, but she took it like a trooper.
Since she had to be moved to a tranny shop, I used a couple loops of wire to secure the shaft to a brace right above it, and gathered up the bolts and small connecting pieces into a plastic bag.
Very important - there are some loose metal caps that are now exposed at the connection. It would be a bad thing - maybe a very bad thing if these came off and all the little loose things inside escaped their confines. I used masking tape to go around the end of the shaft a few times to ensure their continued captivity.
The only place to disconnect it is at the differential.
I jacked up one side of the truck, settled it on two jack stands, then put the jack under the driveshaft so it wouldn't attempt murder when it came loose. Ilsa's a sweet girl, but she can get feisty sometimes.
At the universal joint that connects to the differential, there are four bolts with small connectors between each pair. Yep, this is where it all happens.
Using 7/16" socket and box-end wrenches, I loosened them. From now on, I was careful to support the shaft since it could (but probably wouldn't) come down when the bolts were off.
After taking all four bolts off, the shaft remained firmly in place. It needed to be moved toward the front of the truck in order to be loosened. The driveshaft connection at the tranny is free, and there is room for the shaft to go forward a bit, but it probably won't come loose without some persuasion.
I used a small crowbar, but any type of wrecking bar or even a big screwdriver would probably work. This is where you really need to be ready for a heavy piece of metal to try to come home to Mother Earth.
It didn't take much persuasion to pry the shaft back towards the tranny. Even though I had a jack under it, it still came down far enough and quickly enough to cause considerable consternation and a few expletives from me. It probably wasn't an enjoyable experience for Ilsa either, but she took it like a trooper.
Since she had to be moved to a tranny shop, I used a couple loops of wire to secure the shaft to a brace right above it, and gathered up the bolts and small connecting pieces into a plastic bag.
Very important - there are some loose metal caps that are now exposed at the connection. It would be a bad thing - maybe a very bad thing if these came off and all the little loose things inside escaped their confines. I used masking tape to go around the end of the shaft a few times to ensure their continued captivity.
