General drive shaft question

[Dattebayo]

Hey guys, a general question here:

I was replacing the center support bearing on the truck today. After pulling off the shaft off and while banging the front shaft off the center bearing, I let the center punch slip out of the hole and I slammed the hammer down directly on the threads at the end... Obviously, the threads got compressed at the very end and the nut won't screw on now. &*%$

Can I take this thing to a machine shop and have them re-cut the threads on the end or will I have to get a new front shaft from the junkyard?

Need to know by tomorrow morning if at all possible, thanks!

[Infinitiguy19]

Are the threads at the end exposed with the nut tightened to spec torque?

They make special dies that slip over the bad threads and onto the good threads. You probably use one of those. I saw the product on a show called Gearz. I can't seem to find it now.

You could also try cutting the mushroomed part off exposing good threads. Then use a thread file.

One swing is all it took to mushroom it? 3-4 lbs "hammer"?

[Dattebayo]

Are the threads at the end exposed with the nut tightened to spec torque?

As I said earlier, after I pulled the shaft off the center bearing, I hit the threaded end with a raw hammer. Nut was off.

They make special dies that slip over the bad threads and onto the good threads. You probably use one of those. I saw the product on a show called Gearz. I can't seem to find it now.

This isn't something I can wait to get done, so expensive specialty tools isn't what I'm after, really. But cool nonetheless.

You could also try cutting the mushroomed part off exposing good threads. Then use a thread file.

One swing is all it took to mushroom it? 3-4 lbs "hammer"?

Can't cut the threads off, the nut end fits barely over the end of the shaft. Also, it's not mushroomed, the threads are compressed; the opposite of stretched threads.

All I really want to know is: Can I take this thing to a machine shop and have them re-cut the threads on the end or will I have to get a new front shaft from the junkyard?

[Dattebayo]

Pic for added clarity of problem:

[Infinitiguy19]

You can probably take it to a machine shop to have it fixed. But I would be worried about the missing threads....

I would strongly consider replacement though!

[Dattebayo]

Gonna try a thread file...

[PapaSmurf2k3]

A machine shop could probably chuck that up in a lathe and re-cut the threads.

[Dattebayo]

The machine shops around here all said they don't have a big enough rig to handle a 18mm by 1.5 shaft... I hate DC, its always so damn useless! I had a local shop cut the two bad threads off with a angle grinder and check the balance...

I just hope the smaller stake hole for the nut in the center bearing holds now...