Measuring a drive shaft?

[Crazy440]

Getting ready to measure between the yolks, so I can have my drive shaft cut and balanced.  When I put the tranny yolk in, should I fully seat it or seat it and pull it back a bit, so I can install the DS on the rear end yolk?  When I took it off, it was a pain.  Had no play to get the u-joint out of the rear yolk.
Thanks

[BSB67]

Getting ready to measure between the yolks, so I can have my drive shaft cut and balanced.  When I put the tranny yolk in, should I fully seat it or seat it and pull it back a bit, so I can install the DS on the rear end yolk?  When I took it off, it was a pain.  Had no play to get the u-joint out of the rear yolk.
Thanks

What is wrong with the shaft you have in there now.  If it were too long, you would have problems and would know it.  You want it as long as possible without bottoming out under normal suspension travel. 

To answer your question, no more than 1",  some recommend 3/4".  Be sure the car is either on the ground or supported by the axle housing.

[Crazy440]

Getting ready to measure between the yolks, so I can have my drive shaft cut and balanced.  When I put the tranny yolk in, should I fully seat it or seat it and pull it back a bit, so I can install the DS on the rear end yolk?  When I took it off, it was a pain.  Had no play to get the u-joint out of the rear yolk.
Thanks

What is wrong with the shaft you have in there now.  If it were too long, you would have problems and would know it.  You want it as long as possible without bottoming out under normal suspension travel. 

To answer your question, no more than 1",  some recommend 3/4".  Be sure the car is either on the ground or supported by the axle housing.

Drive shaft is out of my 73 Charger, going in my 72 Dart Swinger.

[c00nhunterjoe]

With full weight on car, i always fully seat in trans, then pull back 1" and measure.

[BSB67]

Getting ready to measure between the yolks, so I can have my drive shaft cut and balanced.  When I put the tranny yolk in, should I fully seat it or seat it and pull it back a bit, so I can install the DS on the rear end yolk?  When I took it off, it was a pain.  Had no play to get the u-joint out of the rear yolk.
Thanks

What is wrong with the shaft you have in there now.  If it were too long, you would have problems and would know it.  You want it as long as possible without bottoming out under normal suspension travel. 

To answer your question, no more than 1",  some recommend 3/4".  Be sure the car is either on the ground or supported by the axle housing.

Drive shaft is out of my 73 Charger, going in my 72 Dart Swinger.

Same u-joint size?

[ws23rt]

It's an easier measure to take with the rear yoke fully seated.  Than just subtract the sliding clearance needed.
I don't know the minimum needed but 1" sounds about right.

[John_Kunkel]

"Fully seated" doesn't work if the rear seal has a dust boot.

For a 727, 3 3/4" from the end of the tailhousing to the center of u-joint is correct; for a 904 3 5/8" is correct.