I have a 2008 JK 4 door with a 4.5" BDS lift. This weekend I noticed a small amount of grease coming out of the front driveshaft boot. After a closer look I think I will be better off to upgrade to an aftermarket driveshaft.
My question for everyone is : if I replace the driveshaft does the pinion angle need to be exactly the same as the driveshaft to use one of the double cardan shafts that are available?
My pinion looks like it comes straight out and then the shaft angles up to the transfer case. I do not have adjustable control arms on the front to adjust pinion angle.
I have searched and searched but cannot find anyone who has voiced this concern, but rather I have found lots of posts where people just replace the driveshaft.
Am I the only one who has a pinion the comes straight out and not angled up?
The driveshaft that I would like to upgrade to would be a coast shaft from northridge4x4.

 

I run a Tatton on my 4.5 lift. I adjusted my control arms to where my pinion angle is close to straight. As in pinion needs to be pointed straight to the transfer case, not parallel with the ground. If I understand it sounds like yours points straight back?
I see your pics now.. It would need to be adjusted pointing more up towards transfer case.
But if you don't have adjustable controls arms on a 4.5 lift it might be a issue.
With adjustable arms you can find the medium between pinion angle and steering caster that works best.
I couldn't stand to drive mine with the stockers and 4.5 lift. Wanted to change lanes everytime I blinked!!

I kept tearing the boots at the ends with 4.5 lift.

 

Mine drives straight as an arrow and does not pull at all. I guess I will pull the shaft and look into adjustable control arms. Would I need uppers and lowers or just one or the other.

 

On the front most prefer lowers to adjust. Having just the lowers to adjust is gonna affect axle placement. I liked having both. The lowers I set for wheelbase. Then adjusted my pinion angle with the uppers.
I tried to get it as close to pointing straight at the transfer case as I could with my driveshaft. This is with my old Dana 30. I upgraded to the PR 44 with more pinion angle and it worked out better. I was able to have it straight without affecting my steering.

 

To me that looks like a picture of your pinion seal leaking. The boot that typically tears on the drive shaft is at the transfer case side.

If you really do need a drive shaft PM us and we can get you a great deal a set of Adam's Driveshafts.

 

I was thinking the same thing.

 

Seal was leaking but I fixed that. Not in the picture is the boot at the top or transfer case end. There is minimal grease coming out but it is coming out and that is no good.

 

The Adams shaft that you have would still require me to raise the angle of the pinion right??

 

Regardless of which Driveshaft you have you always want to shoot for the best possible pinion angle.

 

Well I guess the next step will be adjustable control arms before shaft. No sense wearing out a new shaft prematurely.