Final drive unit - a bit of play on the drive shaft?

Is it ok for there to be a small amount of play on the drive shaft where it exits the final drive unit?

Like this:



It wants to return to (mostly) center, feels a bit springy, which makes me feel it's supposed to be there to compensate a bit alongside the u-joint, but I'm unsure. There's no binding or grinding on rotation, but there is that play. If it's not ok, that's no biggy (it's an extra), but I'd like to know before passing it on to someone else.

 

I can't see the video. Says it's still being processed.
If you're used to chain drive, then it will appear that there is a lot of backlash at the wheel. There are a lot of gears in the system, and they all have lash to them. That adds up to it seeming like there is more play than would be desirable. It's both normal, and intended.

 

Nah, I mean in the shaft itself. I'll try again, that just sat at "processing" forever.



Seems like it's supposed to be there, but it pays to get confirmation.

 

Yes. Normal. It's a semi-floating system to help compensate for the changing arc of the u-joint's rotation. You may have noticed the spring between the driveshaft and the final drive.

 

Ah ok. Didn't take the drive shaft out of the gearbox, just swapped the whole assembly.

Thanks for the confirmation!

 

You'r wlcome.
Go a head and pull the driveshaft from the final drive. The splines do need to be cleaned and re-greased occasionally. May as well do it now. Be sure to use a waterproof grease with a high moly content.