RockAuto- 4x4 front drive shaft, '81 K20 -Rock Auto

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

JD Miller

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 30, 2024
Posts
339
Reaction score
631
Location
Goober Idaho
First Name
JD
Truck Year
1981
Truck Model
K20 silverado
Engine Size
350
It is high quality, not a cheesy china POS.

Guy I know that has a drive shaft shop in Ca does alot of race car/boat and polished aluminum show car drive shafts and he wanted $400+ just to replace the slip yoke and spline and one u-joint on new slip yoke and balance. Rebuilding the double cardan would be more $$
So this Dorman shaft was a good deal

....PS Oops , spoke to soon, see below :mad::insane::mexsmoke:o_O

You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
 
Last edited:

JD Miller

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 30, 2024
Posts
339
Reaction score
631
Location
Goober Idaho
First Name
JD
Truck Year
1981
Truck Model
K20 silverado
Engine Size
350
Damn this Dorman is 2 1/2" diameter tube. My original shaft is 2" and Rock Auto Dorman description says its a 2" also. Part number on box is correct but its a 2 1/2 " shaft

Anybody running a 2 1/2" shaft on a turbo 400 auto square body

Im going to go take other measurement, bolt pattern, other diameters
 

Radiohead

That guy on the Columbia
Joined
Mar 17, 2022
Posts
2,488
Reaction score
8,117
Location
Low Earth Orbit where it's safer
First Name
Eric
Truck Year
MCMLXXIX
Truck Model
C-20 Silverado Camper Special
Engine Size
454 crazy cubes, or 7.4 luscious litres
It is high quality, not a cheesy china POS.

Guy I know that has a drive shaft shop in Ca does alot of race car/boat and polished aluminum show car drive shafts and he wanted $400+ just to replace the slip yoke and spline and one u-joint on new slip yoke and balance. Rebuilding the double cardan would be more $$
So this Dorman shaft was a good deal

You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
Wow, looks like Dorman is stepping it up a bit.
 

JD Miller

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 30, 2024
Posts
339
Reaction score
631
Location
Goober Idaho
First Name
JD
Truck Year
1981
Truck Model
K20 silverado
Engine Size
350
Wow, looks like Dorman is stepping it up a bit.
Nope , frickin Cardon CV is 4" diameter, My original is 3 1/2" diameter. The Dorman will not clear the cross member for the trans mount. Too Big :insane:

Original shaft tube is 2" dia , Dorman is 2 1/2" dia

PS
Dormans specs say 2" diameter. I got 2 1/2" and the cardan CV is larger too

Maybe its package wrong... My box dorman sticker 938-192 part number is correct on the box
 
Last edited:

legopnuematic

Licensed Junk Dealer
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2016
Posts
2,595
Reaction score
6,821
Location
MO
First Name
Spencer
Truck Year
1971, 1̶9̶7̶4, 1976, 1979,1̶9̶8̶5, 2002
Truck Model
Dart Swinger, Sierra 10, C10 Cheyenne, C10 Big Ten, Silverado 10, Ram 2500
Engine Size
225/6, 350 c.i., 350 c.i., 5.9l Cummins
The wallet with wings strikes again!
You must be registered for see images attach
 

legopnuematic

Licensed Junk Dealer
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2016
Posts
2,595
Reaction score
6,821
Location
MO
First Name
Spencer
Truck Year
1971, 1̶9̶7̶4, 1976, 1979,1̶9̶8̶5, 2002
Truck Model
Dart Swinger, Sierra 10, C10 Cheyenne, C10 Big Ten, Silverado 10, Ram 2500
Engine Size
225/6, 350 c.i., 350 c.i., 5.9l Cummins
Dorman definitely is a mixed bag though, I have generally had decent luck with their products, I know from others they definitely have some clinkers.

Hopefully rock auto will work with you on the return. I had ordered a set of u joint u bolts, got sent a set of outer axle bearings and seals for a 10 bolt car rear. Did the online return/problem prompt, answered the questions. Next day I get an email the replacement shipped. No complaints with the process.
 

JD Miller

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 30, 2024
Posts
339
Reaction score
631
Location
Goober Idaho
First Name
JD
Truck Year
1981
Truck Model
K20 silverado
Engine Size
350
The wallet with wings strikes again!
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
It isnt Rock Auto's Fault..... It s a Dorman Fudge-up
 

JD Miller

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 30, 2024
Posts
339
Reaction score
631
Location
Goober Idaho
First Name
JD
Truck Year
1981
Truck Model
K20 silverado
Engine Size
350
It may not fit the particular application due to the larger size, but it does indeed look to be a quality unit.
True , quality, But its all over size and wont fit
 

JD Miller

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 30, 2024
Posts
339
Reaction score
631
Location
Goober Idaho
First Name
JD
Truck Year
1981
Truck Model
K20 silverado
Engine Size
350
Not pic of mine , same though. Compare 2" with 3 1/2" Cardan and 2 1/2" with larger 4" Cardan. The double Cardan u-joints are larger also

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach
 
Last edited:

JD Miller

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 30, 2024
Posts
339
Reaction score
631
Location
Goober Idaho
First Name
JD
Truck Year
1981
Truck Model
K20 silverado
Engine Size
350
I called the number on the Tech support card that came with the Dorman Drive shaft.
PowerTrain Industries makes the drive shaft for Rock auto.
PowerTrain tech guy says they dont catalog/make a front drive shaft for 87 and older chevy 4x4 . The 938-192 driveshaft is for 1988 and newer chevy. So Dorman is Cataloging the '88 and newer drive shaft for 87 and older chevys
 

75gmck25

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 13, 2016
Posts
2,302
Reaction score
2,270
Location
Northern Virginia
First Name
Bruce
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
K25 Camper Special TH350 NP203
Engine Size
5.7
I replaced my entire front driveshaft years ago, from a place called Driveshaft Specialists in San Antonio. I lived there, so it was local, and it worked great.

Last year I started getting loud clicking noises and determined it was the universal joints in the CV joint of the front driveshaft. Ordered all new universal joints, along with the CV centering yoke (which had fallen apart), and they were easy to replace. Also lubed the slip joint and made sure it moved easily. Based on that relatively simple job I think I would just “rebuild” it myself.
 

JD Miller

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 30, 2024
Posts
339
Reaction score
631
Location
Goober Idaho
First Name
JD
Truck Year
1981
Truck Model
K20 silverado
Engine Size
350
I replaced my entire front driveshaft years ago, from a place called Driveshaft Specialists in San Antonio. I lived there, so it was local, and it worked great.

Last year I started getting loud clicking noises and determined it was the universal joints in the CV joint of the front driveshaft. Ordered all new universal joints, along with the CV centering yoke (which had fallen apart), and they were easy to replace. Also lubed the slip joint and made sure it moved easily. Based on that relatively simple job I think I would just “rebuild” it myself.
My slip yoke is worn bad
Spline shaft of the slip yoke need to be cut off on a lathe and weld new spline onto the shaft tube and then balance. Job for a drive shaft shop. Sure the rest i can do my self

I found a drive shaft shop in Ogden Utah that will build me a complete all new, proper 2" dia drive shaft with a stronger full spline slip yoke, and ship it to me in Idaho at a good price
 
Last edited:

SquareRoot

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 18, 2017
Posts
4,227
Reaction score
8,114
Location
Arizona
First Name
Mike
Truck Year
85
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
350
Look at the bright side... :hump:
 

Forum statistics

Threads
44,388
Posts
956,120
Members
36,669
Latest member
lownslow85
Top