I could use some guidance from anyone who has replaced their rear drive shaft by themselves. I have reviewed the posts and images here, but I haven't found anyone to have my challenge. I currently have the original driveshaft in place on my 2006 GX.
I am planning on removing the original and installing the updated shaft 37110-60A40. The telescoping portion of the new shaft is fully compressed, and I don't have enough strength to manually telescope it by hand. Even with the height selector on Low, the existing installed shaft is telescoped about 2 inches. So the new shaft before telescoping is 2 inches shorter than the space where it will be installed once I remove the existing shaft. The install bolts will probably telescope the new shaft a little, but I don't think it will stretch 2 inches. I have not yet jacked up the truck, so that might compress the telescoping portion.
That is my situation. 1) How do I either telescope the new shaft before installing, or compress the existing shaft before removing? 2) The very detailed post with an attached pdf stated to have the height at normal and switched to off. Is this what needs to be done? 3) Does the new shaft need to be lubed or does it come pre-lubed - it has 6 fittings just like the old shaft? Thanks - Bob

 

I figured out my install. I had to brace myself better to get it to telescope the first time - after that it moved easily. The u-joints are pre-lubed, so the telescoping section is probably also pre-lubed. An easy job and well worth it. Bob

 

Grease it and it will expand. You should grease anyway. If it compressed it will take the grease.

 

You also could have removed the zerk fitting in the slip joint, which would have allowed you to collapse the slip joint with very little resistance, just some grease would have came out the zerk hole and made a small mess if you weren't ready for it.

 

nice, pretty work

 

Were you getting knocking and clunking? Wondering if I should replace mine too. I keep mine in 2nd shift at all times since I don't like the jerking and thumping.

 

I've read a lot of info which indicates that the current version of the shaft is no different than the original, and that the real problem lies in not adding enough grease to the yoke. So before I replaced my clunking shaft, I greased the yoke with a huge amount of grease. 2 weeks later it was clunking again, so I greased it again with a huge amount. The clunk went away and has been gone for 5 months now, no shaft replacement needed.