Is there only one way to get drive shaft splines in?

I did my carrier bearing a week ago, and when the 2 piece drive shaft separated, I had no idea if I was putting it back in the right way. Is there only one way it can go in?

I had a shudder from 5-10 mph, so I went and rotated the front flange 180 degrees, and the shudder got less bad than it was. Now Im wondering if the remaining very slight shudder/vibe from 5-10 is worth trying to fix.

 

Depending on how many splines, that is how many different ways it goes in. There's no special slot that it only goes in. However, driveshafts are balanced and if you don't put the driveshaft back together like it was from factory that too could cause vibration as the balance could be off.

 

It is recommended drive shaft yokes be in a straight line. meaning ur u joint end caps (front and rear) be inline with each other.hope this helps

 

The 2nd gen driveshaft has slotted splines so it can only go in a certain way, Im wondering if theres one or two ways it can go in.

 

your drive shaft has to be in phase there's a diagram in the FSM that shows you what its supposed to be, always make match marks, I pulled my rear axle to clean the rust off from the previous owner and put it back not thinking anything of it and had crazy vibes, it was only a couple splines off but it was bad enough to need to pull over and check it out.

 

Yes it does have splines. But it can be rotated several times and fit. It's a perfect circle and splined evenly.

 

The splines are not even, I looked and am sure on that. I know because I had to get it lined up just right to go in, the question was if you can rotate 180* or any other way and get it to go in.

 

Well, learn something new every day.