dropped my driveshaft

[klaussk]

I have an 85 k10 with a 305 and a 700r4 transmission.Well I was trying to get my TV cable properly adjusted and I'm pretty sure I did. But unfortunately, While on a test drive the rear drive shaft fell out of my truck. It popped out of the transfer case first and spilled all the gear lube out. Then it came off the universal on the axle. The tranny made some pretty terrible sounding noises when i put it in park but I think that might be because the engine was to high of an rpm. The truck still starts and the drive shaft feel off at very low speeds while I was coming to a stop light. I should have payed more attention to how much the truck was shaking going down that road but I blew it off because they had the roads all tore up because they are about to pave. My wife said I'm not allowed to work on the truck until after she visits so I have about a month and a half before I can stick any money into it. I just want to know if there is any way to tell how bad this might have hurt the transfercase and transmission. I might just use this as a reason to upgrade to a newer 700r4 and transfercase out of an 87 to 91.Ill pull them out of a junk yard and rebuild them. Id like to hop up the tranny with a double pack clutch and shift kit. Anyone know anything else that might improve it?I'm just trying to figure out what I am going to do. Also do you guys think I could just put the driveshaft back in and baby it around base and be OK. I really don't see any damage to the drive shaft, universals , or spline. I have no idea why this happened.

[Da67goatman]

Sounds like that shaft was too short and when the axle drooped out, the slip yoke came out of the tailshaft.  When rebuilding a 700r4 use the corvette servo and get the TV Valve that allows full throttle 3rd to 4th shifts.

[Blazin]

Reason it made noise is you probably put it in park while the trans still thought the truck was running down the road. Should always shut them off in gear when the drive shaft falls out! Then put it in park. I would just stick a new rear joint in it and run it. Check the yoke, and the straps for any damage.

[klaussk]

I took the straps off the rear and one of them got chewed up pretty bad. I think the u-joint just failed and the drive shaft got bound up.I had checked the driveshaft a few weeks ago and there was no play in the u-joints. I don't think it was installed properly because it seems like one of the caps with the bearings in it fell out of the yoke. I'm going to replace both u-joints in the rear today and eventually do the front drive shaft also.Thanks for the help guys.