Propeller Shaft Wear

My propeller shaft has a 1" section(amongst the rusty shaft) that is shiny. It looks like abnormal wear. It just before the ujoint. I'd like to attach a photo but there no option to do that. Otherwise, it's shifting in and out of 4WD just fine. https://share.icloud.com/photos/0b6CBeWBRP-qw2pm25cA4N-yg

 

^That's the slip yoke slipping in and out to accommodate the length change as the axle moves up and down (and the engine shifting in its mounts).

 

This was discovered when the only one out of six oil lube places I went that would actually lube the ujoints. I suspected it had to do with going in and out of 4WD so I had the tech check again after putting it in 4WD - no change in the shaft position. Your answer makes perfect sense. Thank you!

 

At most, that slip yoke moves in and out 1/4 inch during daily driving. If you’re off roading a lot where the suspension is being cycled a lot, it might have an inch or so of total movement.

The front driveshaft also has one. I was stumped as to why the front shaft would have one because it’s not connected to a solid axle, until I realized it was to take up the movement of engine/transmission/transfer case assembly as it moves around in its mounts. With the torque of 4lo, the whole assembly moves around quite a bit, judging from the movement of my manual transfer shifter.

I get that most cars don’t have greasable zerks anymore, but it’s annoying at how hard it is to find shops that will grease them even when somebody is paying for it. Is it because maybe mechanics don’t bother buying grease guns anymore? I don’t get it.

 

Do you not get the circled option below when you make a post, in order to upload a photo?



It also may be under "More Options"

 

Looks normal.

 

10 years ago when I took my vehicles to dealers for maintenance, greasing the U-joints was a separate job that they charged around 0.5-hr labor for. This isn't something a shop would include in an oil change visit unless they charge straight time.

 

Traces of movement are normal there, but it all looks a bit dry to me?
Some grease to all 6 zerk fittings on the drive shafts would probably not be a bad idea.
Not that the drive shafts should be full of grease everywhere on the outside, but after greasing and cleaning it doesn't look so dry.

 

Nope. That is beyond saving. Email me, and i will take that abnormally abused 4runner off your hands,.. cheap, because of such a destroyed rig.

 

Looks like I'm good to go. Thanks everyone!