Front Drive Shaft Question

nealseale · Post by **nealseale** » Fri Jan 09, 2015 10:26 pm

I need to replace the front universal joint on the front drive shaft. Can I unbolt the universal joint from the front axle and slide the front part of the drive shaft out of the short back part of the shaft, or do I need to remove the back universal also?
I've marked all parts that are connecting to make sure it goes back together correctly. After unbolting the front universal joint I tried pulling the front part of the shaft out but have been unsuccessful. (Not sure if it can be removed) Thanks for any pointers/suggestions.

Post by **wesk** » Fri Jan 09, 2015 11:25 pm

If the driveshaft is a stock military M38/M38A1 shaft the seal at that sliding joint has a theaded retainer you must remove.

Also the information you are asking for is explained in great detail in the service manual with excellent illustrations. TM 9-1804B for the M38 and TM 9-8015-2 for the M38A1/M170. These are free for you to download on our downloads page.

You should indicate which model jeep you are asking about in your post. It is easy to list it in all your posts by making it part of your post signature. Go to your profile and edit it. In the signature block I suggest folks at least place their preferred first name and their jeep year and model. I mention the name because the majority of folks are not into the CB radio handles from yesteryear called usernames. Also listing your home state will motivate viewers close to you to offer hands on help.

nealseale · Post by **nealseale** » Sat Jan 10, 2015 8:20 am

Thanks Wes!!! I was looking in the wrong place for the answer.

Post by **wesk** » Sat Jan 10, 2015 9:52 am

The military tended to keep the operator handbooks devoid of technical info and kept the technical stuff in the higher echelon maintenance manuals. Also they kept component rebuild data separate in component specific manuals like fuel pumps in TM 9-1828A and Auto-Lite components in TM 9-1825B.

Were you guys still using A1's in 70/71 in the 101st? I was Air Force in Thailand and by 68/69 our SP's had made the switch to the M151 and you only saw a M38A1 occasionally. A lot of folks are unaware that Willys built the M151 under license around 60/61. We see a few of them often in collector's hands.

nealseale · Post by **nealseale** » Sat Jan 10, 2015 11:27 am

Unfortunately I didn't have the opportunity to ride in a jeep. When we stood down we trained for 5-6 days at Camp Evans, then went to Eagle Beach in the back of semi dump trucks or Chinook's for 1 day, then Slicks picked us up to take up out to the next AO. I'll ask at our next reunion. The guys that were in the rear would know. I do remember that when I came back to Ft. Benning in the summer of 71 our unit had M151's.