Driveshaft angles and lengths

Your slip yoke is not going to have much travel under normal circumstances so I would give it about 1 1/2 inches from completely compressed. And I believe this is a 4 bag per axle setup which is great for keeping driveline angles correct.

 

NM I looked at the truck today, looks like they cut the differential side only.
Since it's already a short drive shaft (day cab) there was no carrier bearing to check if it was shimmed down.
There were new weights welded to both ends of the drive shaft. Diff end


Trans end

 

At running height I like to have 2 inches at the slip yoke. I am OK with up to 3.
If you moved your rear rear forward or used the the Freightliner rear your yokes won't match up. Since you must buy something get the yoke put on your tube that matches the yoke on the rear end you are using.

 

Where seal is on the end of the slip yoke to where it would bottom out on if it hit the driveshaft end.
Look at other trucks and copy that goes a long way.
I thank other people covered the bases well on this issue but if something is unclear I will try to help you with that.

 

A couple of points to share but you probably all ready know.
Digital angle meters are the cats meow. I became addicted to one my coworker owns. It was expensive when he bought it years ago while building wings for an airplane. I checked and found one at harbor freight for $35 today.
It is not to hard to shorten one piece shafts that use the old style joints I always do them myself.

 

This is an older thread.... how did things work out AModelCat? I’m currently in the process of removing the forward axle and sliding the rear drive forward. This is on a ‘99 Pete with air leaf.