I bought a DS (rear from a reg cab 4x4 5spd) from a member here for my shortbed project. My question, as the suspension moves up and down, how much does the slip joint move in and out. The DS fits fine but I have about 7/8" before it is completely compressed. Will this be OK for a street rig that won't see anything in the bed? In my mind, as the leaves flatten out the rearend will move slightly to the rear, so I should be OK. Yes, NO????

 

You should be fine.

When i put my GV overdrive in and had to have D/S built. they shoved the yok all the way in, pulled it out one inch, then measured for my new D/S

Flash

 

I'd agree, you should be fine. I've got the opposite problem, with the lift my DS only has about 2" of spline left in the shaft. There isn't really much movement there since, like you said, the rear moves back slightly as it goes up.

 

One inch would be fine for a play truck, 1.5" at most to be safe to allow for a heavy load in the bed. I just had one built and had it built with 1.5" of movement per the driveline shop that retubed it.

 

It depends on your rear suspension. Worn spings sitting on the bumpstops won't move much at all. Six inches of lift articulating well could slide the yoke a couple inches or more.

It's not hard to measure. Jack it up with the supspension at droop and measure. Then put it down with a heavy load in the bed and measure again.