First generation rear u-joint problems

Hello. I'm new to this site and have been trying to find any solutions to my problem.
I have a '96 Tacoma, 5-speed manual trans, 4X4, extended cab with 380,000kms. I started to notice a U-joint squeak a little while ago and isolated it to be coming from the center portion of the rear shaft (double Cardan joint) and after some digging, found that I'm unable to replace that section without replacing the entire portion of the rear shaft ($1300 for the part).
Just wondering if anyone has tried to replace that rear portion of the shaft with one that does not use the double Cardan style joint. My truck is not lifted and the angle of the shaft is not very steep at all. Seems kind of redundant to have that joint set up the way it is.
Any ideas?

 

for the price of that i would suggest finding yourself a one peace drive shaft, i have never had any problems with my u joints. Do you grease your zerks often? i know your truck has alot of miles on it so either way its just worn out parts.... let me search and ill find the guy who does the solid drive shafts i have heard good things about him.

 

There is a guy on eBay that rebuilds them with the Cardan joint. They look really good. He even replaces the u-joints in the Cardan joint with Spicer u-joints. They look pretty beefed-up. That pivot joint could be fixed by having a professional rebuild the joint. Where I live, Six State Distributors in Portland fixes all drive lines.

Search eBay for Tacoma drive shaft. They are less than what you were quoted for.