Cheap Double Cardan Drive Shaft?

[Rescue Diver]

I just happen to have a front drive shaft laying around from a low miles 2001 XJ Cherokee that's a double cardan, and the U-Joints are the same size as my CJ's and the diameter is similar. I'm thinking of getting it shortened 5 inches and using it in the rear of my CJ.

Has anyone else on here ever used a factory XJ double cardan drive shaft in the back of their CJ, or can anyone give me a good reason why it won't work????

While trying to get rid of an annoying intermittent drive train vibration a couple of years ago, right after I first built my jeep, one of the things I did to try and eliminate it was to lower my cross member with spacers. After figuring out the hard way that my vibration was being caused by a failing nearly new throwout bearing, I never took the spacers back out of the cross member.

A couple of days ago it occurred to me that I was giving up an inch of ground clearance because of them, and I didn't even know if I needed them, so yesterday I bought shorter stainless bollts and washers, and I removed the spacers. Without them, it doesn't vibrate, so it should be ok, but I'm still thinking of installing that double cardan drive shaft just to be sure.

 

[Old Dog]

It should work fine. the yoke on the t/c does need to be changed if you have the strap style now.

 

[Rescue Diver]

It should work fine. the yoke on the t/c does need to be changed if you have the strap style now.

Fortunately I have the u-bolt type yoke, so I think it'll bolt right up. I already shortened it, welded it back up, and painted it tonight. I'll pick up u-joints and four bolts tomorrow and see how it works.

 

[Rescue Diver]

The drive shaft is ready to bolt in. I'll be lifting the rear and starting it in gear to make sure it has no wobble before taking it for a test drive. The weld should be really solid.