Services
Insurance
Loans
Repairs
Advice
About

How do I install a driveshaft? Is it difficult to do?

After a recent incident involving offroading in my car that I don’t want to share too many details about out of embarrassment, I managed to break my car’s driveshaft. I’ve done a few DIY projects before. I wanted to ask how to install a driveshaft and if this is difficult.

avatar
Matt Terzi · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Here’s a quick step-by-step walkthrough on how to install a driveshaft:
  • Safety first! Jack the vehicle off the ground and onto jack stands, with wheel chocks in use and the parking brake engaged.
  • Be sure to wear safety goggles too!
  • Mark off the drivetrain’s alignment.
  • You’ll want to note where the driveshaft is in relation to the differential and the transmission.
  • Use a marker or liquid paper to note those positions.
  • Put a drip pan underneath your transmission or transfer case.
  • You might get a small leak from the output seal during this process.
  • Remove the old driveshaft.
  • You’ll need to disconnect the fasteners and retainers holding it to the differential pinion flange, then slide it out of the transmission.
  • Use chassis grease on the slip yoke splines.
  • Insert the new driveshaft’s yoke into the transmission
  • Make sure you align the new driveshaft properly.
  • Be careful to avoid damaging the output seal.
  • The yoke should slide over the output shaft.
  • Mount the driveshaft to the differential
  • Put the fasteners and retainers back in place.
  • Tighten the fasteners using a torque wrench.
  • Apply however many foot-pounds as the car’s manual specifies.
  • Check your transmission fluid levels and top it off as needed.
Sounds messy, right? Installing a driveshaft isn’t something we recommend doing in your favorite t-shirt. If you’d rather have a mechanic take care of this, you should expect it to cost anywhere from $300 to $2,000, parts and labor included.
There are much cleaner and easier ways to save money than replacing your driveshaft.
Jerry
, America’s #1 top-rated insurance
super app
, can save you a small fortune on
car insurance
, finding you quotes in as little as 45 seconds!
Drivers who use Jerry save an average of over $800 per year on car insurance. Give it a try today and see how much you’ll save!
View full answer 
WHY YOU CAN TRUST JERRY
Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.

Join 4M+ members in lowering their car insurance

Easiest way to compare and buy car insurance

√
No long forms
√
No spam or unwanted phone calls
√
Quotes from top insurance companies
Find insurance savings