A couple of days ago --- I added some 2 1/2" spacers to the rear differential and they went in OK.
That was done to get the truck more level since I ---- well, read on ....
The way it was ---
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The front steering or whatever got to a point where I couldn't hold the truck between the lines very good and the steering box was leaking, so with the steering pinballing and leaking, I replaced it.
Funny that the reman box didn't make a difference to the steering problem, and I next thought that the front springs had settled down (I put snowplow assist-springs on them about 22 years ago) ..... and my guess was wrong as they were not the problem at all.
Those helper springs brought the front end up about 2 inches and although it drove nicely, it always looked overloaded with a trailer on it - even though it starts low that way and really didn't get lower with the trailer on it or not. That was over 18 years ago.
Found it!
What's the chance that two boxes had a loose high center adjustment? --- DOH! I couldda laughed if it didn't cost as much and take as many weeks to fix - finally!
I messed up my own diagnosis!
Now with the rear spacers I feel the u-joints buzzing at roadspeed and a certain "flip-flop" at start up. They are tapered to help point the pinion toward the transfer case --- but maybe not enough huh?
Is there a CV conversion ever done on the rear driveshaft?
Should I just add some tapers to point the pinion even higher?
Can "normal" u-joints survive this sortta changed running angle?\
How come a retired mechanic with 56+ years in the trenches can miss a diagnosis like that? I wouldn't have missed it that badly with a customer --- but for ME? Nope!