Triumph Repair: Replacing Drive Shaft U-Joints, drive axles, drive shaft

Question
QUESTION: Is it possible to remove the drive shaft with transmission and differential still in place?

ANSWER: Hi Jeff,

Possibly, but first you need to tell me what kind of car this is.

Howard

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Howard,
Sorry, to much going on. It's a 1973 TR6.

Thanks!

ANSWER: Hi Jeff,

Yes, you can remove the drive shaft without removing anything other then the exhaust pipes. The drive shaft has a slip joint to allow it to compress and come off of the transmission flange and the differential flange. You should mark the flanges so you put it back in the same position on the flanges (according to the factory) but the bolt pattern fits at 180 degrees out too.

Howard

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Do you mean a slip joint like on the drive axles? I don't recall seeing this same thing on the drive shaft, but it does have a threaded sleeve to adjust the length.

BTW, why do you think the bolt pattern on the flanges is not symmetrical?

Jeff

Answer
Yes, it is a slip joint and the threaded sleeve is the end cap that holds the seal in place.

And I suspect the pattern was the results of English beer more then anything else. Probably had to do with the shape of the Spicer type "U" joint.

Howard