So I am doing this work.
Ordered a replacement shaft and flex disc.
Managed to do the following:
- Removed triple square bolts from rear of shaft
- Removed the 3 bolts holding flex disc to shaft (bolts + nuts + washers)
- Removed the 3 bolts holding flex disc to tranny (bolts + nuts + washers)
- Loosened exhaust hangers at mid point of car (total 2, one on each side of car), plus two front hangers (the ones next to the cats on each pipe), plus loosened the hangers for muffler as well (not removed but all loosened).
- Loosened the shaft off tranny and rear diff - shaft is now free and unattached

My problem:

I am having a very hard time removing the actual shaft so I can stick a replecement in there.
Can someone give me a secret of what they did to remove the actual shaft?

It seems not to be able to come out rear first (sliding back - the rear shaft too long and unless exhaust is off, I do not see that happening)
It seems not to want to come out via pushing it to the front either. After removing the disk , there seems to be space to push the shaft forward, positioning the front part adjacent to the transfer case, but even if I push down on the exhaust, I seem not to be able to get enough clearance to move the front part of it past the cross member (tranny cross member), to spit it out. I assume I will have same difficulty with putting new one in.

Any tricks, additional steps will be very apreciated. It has gotten dark (started late) and I will have to finish tomorrow.

Thanks.

 

Allright, I just got it out.
Will post a DIY so that you can see how to do this without having to pull the exhaust.
To think about it, easy but still a PITA to do this. Of all things, mailman was supposed to bring the flex disc by noon, and it is still not here yet. Got pissed as this is the only thing stopping me from finishing this. Paid for overnight shipping and nada. They better refund the money.
Will update after I am done.
Thanks.

 

Looking forward to your DIY..

Where did you get your shaft from?

 

Got the shaft from coloradodriveshaft.com.
Decided that way since they included free shipping for core return, and because they hi speed balance the shafts, and because after searching, i have not seen reviews where people ended returning the shafts for secondary replacement. Will post ths diy as soon as i can.

 

Posted my DIY to this forum. Thanks for the help from all you fine folk.

CLICK HERE