1962 GMC K1000 Suburban - Front drive shaft orientation?
 

Divorced Rockwell T221 transfer case with 3 drive shafts. Has a slip joint on each drive shaft. No Cardan joints. What direction is the slip joint on the front driveshaft? Mine had the front drive shaft slip joint on the front near the axle, but I've seen a couple of pictures of restored K1000 or K10 with the slip joint toward the rear. I've seen time period 4WD GMC or Chevrolet brochures that show the slip joint installed both to front and rear.

I asked a drive shaft shop today and the two guys at the counter said joint to the front. One said more debris would enter the joint if toward the rear, the other said lighter smaller sliding yoke to front will move more easily with the axle than entire drive shaft having to move with bumps if slip joint was to rear. By the latter logic the rear drive shaft should have the slip joint at the rear and I don't think I've ever seen that.

Re: 1962 GMC K1000 Suburban - Front drive shaft orientation?
 

I've seen arguments both ways. Sprung weight, un-sprung weight. If you go to different drive line shops, you'll get different answers. I've even seen rear shafts flipped. I don't think it really matters in the long run. My opinion is the slip goes on top regardless of front or rear to keep crap out of the slip even though it is supposed to have a spline seal. Front shafts later on had the slip always at the bottom only because the CV bolted to the T-case yoke/flange.. Potato/potaaato

Re: 1962 GMC K1000 Suburban - Front drive shaft orientation?
 

What kmech said


Also, the 1960 brochure that covers 4x4 models, the slips are at the T case.

Re: 1962 GMC K1000 Suburban - Front drive shaft orientation?
 

I think the slip yoke takes a beating being near the axle. The slip yoke can live a calm life near the transfer case.