# Drive shaft fell out

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/drive-shaft-fell-out/44466>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** tacoma, toyota\
**Created:** [February 14, 2010, 6:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/drive-shaft-fell-out/44466 "2010-02-14T18:12:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Chriskobi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Chriskobi](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Chriskobi)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 6:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/drive-shaft-fell-out/44466/1 "2010-02-14T18:12:10Z")

</div>

My rear drive shaft fell out and I was wondering if this is something that I could fix on my own, I don’t have the funds right now to take it to a shop. Oh I also ended up driving it in four wheel drive using the front drive shaft for about 2 miles to get it home, dragging the rear shaft. I know I probably made things worse but I cant afford a tow either. ANy suggestions would be helpful.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Chriskobi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Chriskobi](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Chriskobi)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 6:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/drive-shaft-fell-out/44466/2 "2010-02-14T18:15:25Z")

</div>

I guess you should know its a 1998 Toyota Tacoma.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![hd72mm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/9fc29f/32.png) [@hd72mm](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hd72mm)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 6:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/drive-shaft-fell-out/44466/3 "2010-02-14T18:20:23Z")

</div>

Get under there and look, If it was just a u-joint that went bad and broke apart you can replace it easy.  
Make sure driveshaft and rearend was not hurt where u-joints connect them.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 7:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/drive-shaft-fell-out/44466/4 "2010-02-14T19:40:14Z")

</div>

But after you dragged it for 2 miles, there is probably not much left of the rear U-Joint yoke. Both the driveshaft and the saddle on the rear-end will need careful inspection for damage…

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Chriskobi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Chriskobi](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Chriskobi)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 10:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/drive-shaft-fell-out/44466/5 "2010-02-14T22:38:52Z")

</div>

Well I looked under it and the drive shaft end was ground down a bit about a quarter of an inch all the way around where it got ground down. the parts missing are the sleeve yoke, the sleeve yoke plug and the spider journal is completely sheared in half. not any damage underneath besides that.looks like something I should be able to fix. Sorry if I sound like a poser, I had to look up a diagram to figure out the names of the peaces. good to know though.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 5:45am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/drive-shaft-fell-out/44466/6 "2010-02-15T05:45:05Z")

</div>

You might be able to get a complete used driveshaft in good shape from a wrecking yard.