Looking to replace my Front Driveshaft and/or put a conversion kit on the transfer case end. If you aren't familiar, there is a CV joint on the transfer case end of the front drive shaft. I put a 6" suspension lift on last year and as far as I can tell the new, steeper angle caused the boot to rip. I am told that there is a conversion kit that replaces the CV joint with a regular U-joint and then I can get a custom shaft fabricated at my local driveshaft repair place. Has anyone had any problems like this and do you have any suggestions on how to fix it?

Thanks up front for the help

Welcome to the forum.
When you have technical questions it's really a good idea to tell us some of the details, like year, make, model etc...

Thanks for the welcome and the reply Chevy Lover.

Here is the info:

Make: Chevy
Year: 2002
Model: ZR2 S-10 Blazer
Other: I put a 6" Superlift on it.

I'm working on some pictures of the problem.

Any other info that might help?

So, I still haven't figured out how to fix my front drive shaft problem. Ran out of money and time over the holidays......

2002, ZR2
6" suspension lift

I looked into a conversion kit to put a standard type driveshaft on but, there isn't one available for the 2002, ZR2 Transfer case (GM-236). I then looked into just fixing the problem temporarily but the shop I talked to said the parts are on back order and that would just fix it for a little while. With the 6" lift kit the angle is too steep for the driveshaft which is a poor design to begin with. If I replace the transfer case I can have a custom shaft fabricated but that seems to be way too expensive. There has to be a better way. Any advice is appreciated.

Josh

Many lifts require the TC to be clocked... You may have to get a clocking ring to twist the TC front output down to help the alignment.

I will look into the clocking ring. Any idea where I can find that and what is the install like? Is it internal to the TC?

Thanks for the advice swartlkk.

Not a problem! That's what we're here for.

A clocking ring gets installed between the transmission and the TC. I'm not sure if one is available for your application, but I would definitely contact Superlift's customer support and ask them about the issues you are having after installing their lift.

I will definitely call Superlift and run it by them. I checked out their forums and noticed a couple of ZR2's on there that had the same lift. I'm wondering if this happened to them or if it was just a one time thng with mine. I may just be able to have that CV joint re-built. I found a place that does that but, they said the parts are on backorder and have been for a while.

Thanks again....

How can you call the CV joint on the Blazer front driveshaft a poor design? Mine lasted 286K miles.

Well when the parts installed have a limited functionality then some people get frustrated. And since the "CV" joint is actually two universal joints in a single housing designed for them there is a limited amount of height that can be applied to that before it becomes a failure point...

Anyway, I understand why it failed. As far as the design.....I am going off of what the guy who rebuilds them told me and what I am seeing from my end with the lift installed.

I am looking for constructive criticizm or advicenot nickle and dime, mine lasted this long, and this is why it failed, posts that do absolutely no good. I know why it failed....I put a lift on it and changed the angle.

Thanks for the advice from those that have given it. I really appreciate it. For those that came to argue, thanks, but no thanks.

Josh

There is no argument to be made. It is one of the least problematic parts on the newer Blazers.

THANK GOD i found someone else with the same problem I have JGarr, we need to figure this out, i have had this problem for over a year, and have broken two driveshafts at pismo,
Ive been doing the forum thing to, but at s-10forum.com ----goodsite, its been going on for a while:
http://www.s10forum.com/forum/f134/need-new-front-driveshaft-after-lift-help-266558/

as far as Blasir: No, JGarr is correct, its a stupid argument, the driveshaft is fine if you dont lift, but for those who did lift, its a PAIN IN THE ASS.

so JGarr, what have who have you been talking to, because ive talked to acouple of dshaft specialist and this is in ADDITION to the form above:
1) they cannot rebuild the joint for the drive shaft you have, the steel balls break loos and dent the housing,
2) what actually breasks is the small ring inside, which hold the steel balls.....therefore:ring breaks-->balls fly-->balls break housing open
3) http://www.arizonadrivelines.com/Late_S10_front_Kit.htm (http://www.arizonadrivelines.com/Late_S10_front_Kit.htm%C2%A0) <--they think they have a solution, but i dont trust a welded, jerry rigged yoke

apparently the best way to go is a double cardon set up(see s-10forum), but we dont have a way to connect it.
both specialists i talked to said i need to switch the 17 spline output shaft to a 26 spline output shaft in order to place in the double cardon (aka nothing else connects to OUR output shaft) then again you might have a different output shaft, i have transfercase Np223, not 236

additional problem (also stated in forum) i have talked to countless trans specialist and no one has any idea how or if its even possible to change the output shaft.

someone has got to have an idea on this

---------wheres the signature? ------------
1995 s-10 Blazer (non zr2) 4 door............. 4x4.... (well kinda)
6" superlift F.I.T./32x11.5BFG MTs/15x8procomp alloys
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/685810

Svenson,

Thanks for the reply, man. I thought that I was the only one having this problem too!! It seems like everyone I talk to can't help me.

First I tried Tom Woods. I talked to him on the phone and he said that he could make me a shaft but couldn't fit it to my transfer case. He referred me to J&B Conversions who replied with this:

Josh
I wish I could help but the design of the 236 case will not allow the
use of our SYE kit. If you don't feel the need for the full time
function of your 236, you could install a NP231HD and that would allow
the use of our shorty sye and also a conventional front and rear
driveshaft.
Thanks
John


I then contacted Driveshaft Specialists out of Texas... They are the ones who informed me that it is a bad design. They said that they had some in their shop awaiting repair but were waiting on the parts and had been for a while.

After that I contacted a place called Denny's Driveshafts and was off to a good start but then was told that they could not build me a driveshaft....and it was about that straightforward.

I also talked to a tech rep at Superlift and he told me that he hasn't heard of any other S-10's having that problem.

I have been looking in here and on ZR2.com...just checking past posts and forums. I have kinda given up and decided to buy a new shaft from carpart.com. I found a stock shaft for $237 after core. I figure that I will try a new one and see if that one holds up. If that fails then I will look at getting with J&B and going with the NP 231. It may cost me but I just haven't really found anyone who can fix this problem.

JGarr

Josh,

Here is a link i found from another forum about hp performance CV joints. They are for VW buggys but they were listed as being used for IRS lifted vehicles...don't know if it will work with the TC but it is worth checking out....


http://www.dansperformanceparts.com/buggy/susp/buggysusp%20IRS.htm