One Piece Driveshaft for DCSB 4x4

The steel vs alum debate is as old as Ford vs Chevy and probably the Ford folks will never admit they are wrong, hahahaha!

All jokes aside, I'm glad OP sorted through it all and made the correct choice.... Be it, steel or alum

 

Finally installed mine yesterday. I need to check bolts again for tightness after driving it. Tq wrench doesn't exactly fit on there so I'm going w/ the, tighten as much as I can method. The "take off" vibes seem to be gone. But those were the least of my concerns. I guess a lot of my other vibrations were not driveshaft related or maybe I was expecting (hoping) for more. The highway vibrations are still there and I'm sure some of it is other worn parts. Overall I could've lived with minor vibes I had w/ the original 2pc since it wasnt much and saved 600 bux. But it is nice eliminating that center support bearing. I didn't have a good way to weigh the two driveshafts. Maybe dropped a couple pounds of rotational weight.
I'll get some pics for the thread later today when it warms up.

 

Grab you a set of these so you can get the proper torque

 

I'll add it to the list of never ending tools to buy

I didn't get pics like I said, but I did re-check and they're not getting any tighter w/ the wrenches. I think they're plenty tight, but will re-check again eventually.

On a side note, did anyone re-use the bolts on the transfer case side? Mine seemed like they are pressed in. I gave them a few good taps but stopped short of banging on them, ruining the threads and putting myself in a bad situation. The differential side all came out with no effort.

And does anyone else have extra room on one side of the old center support bearing mount compared to the other? I'm not worried about the 1pc hitting the old mounting bracket, but I definitely have significantly more room on one side than the other.

 

Chris the driveshaft is one step but the stock Toyota springs are too soft and allow the axle to wrap so you need better aftermarket springs. Many posts on them.
But you are getting closer!

 

Currently have Dakars on the truck w/ 5100s

I think it's going to come down to freshening up the suspension and new tires. The current setup has 100k on it. (a little less on the dakars)

 

Been close to a year since I was in there, but yeah that sounds right

 

Can someone here help me to find the best one piece drive shaft for my 2006 short bed manual Tacoma?

 

Tom Woods.

 

I don't think there will be a "best". you could have one made locally. But Tom Woods or another online retailer could build one for you. I have the TW 1pc and it's an easy transaction. no down time w/ the truck. Takes an hour to swap in the new one once you have it.

 

Took me a while, but heres a few pictures of the 1pc installed. Like I mentioned earlier, for some reason I have less room on the driver side than passenger side between the old CB mounting brackets and the driveshaft. I'm not worried about it hitting. Just something I picked up on in case others are that way too.

 

That is bitchen. Let us know if it ever hits the CB mount. I may cut mine out. Thanks for the pics.

 

Sure thing! I'll keep the thread updated w/ any changes in my setup

 

For your remaining vibrations, have you checked out the rubbers on the transmission mount? If the rubber splits, under constant load, like on the highway, the transmission kinda 'floats' a little. The vibration would be more noticible like when you let off the gas for a few seconds and then press the gas again. Push up on the t-case with your hands, if you can easily push it up until the bump stop hits, the rubbers are probably bad.

 

Mine is pretty much in the center, not closer to either side. A tip on installing these long driveshafts... Use ratchet straps across the frame to roughly hold it in place, then all you have to do is guide it in place and bolt it up

 

My 3.5" TW is centered in that old center support so as stated look at the trans mount as maybe causing the misalignment.
I mounted the slip joint towards the front into transfer to protect it more from rock hits.

 

Glad to hear I'm the only one w/o a straight driveline so far lol

 

Is this a steel shaft? If so, what's the wall thickness?

 

yes, steel 3.5". Not sure what the thickness is. Standard Tom Woods shaft though. I didn't have anything special done.

I also think I know why I have more room on the one side. I measured rear lift, and my driver side is 1/2" lower between rear axle and frame. Once I get that back to even, I think it should even things out by the CSB mount.

 

I am wanting to know if it will hit the CB mount when flexing the truck. My suspension is pretty flexible.