Just my 2-cents. It looks like the front U-Joint is not installed correctly. Could be the reason for the noise you are hearing. I'm not a transmission expert, but I would think if the slip joint were bottomed out, that the ends would be shinning and not dull. Drive shafts do vary depending on the application. It appears the tranny was just installed, looking at the new and shinning hardware. If it was me, I would check the fluid and if clean and without any milk, I would just change the rear seal and boot. As other stated, then check for driveshaft length. You can always go further if needed.
Good info - I guess the question is now that the old rear is out and after the new one is in - will the longer yoke be an issue? I can always measure to account for the longer yoke and have the driveshaft shortened accordingly. I will have to poke around and see.
I would think the longer length would be from a truck (4X4) or van, due to the action at the rear end while carrying cargo or 4-wheeling. That way the slip yoke could compromise the inner and outer movement. Fitting into the transmission should all be the same. I would think the longer would be best for a HI-PRO car for the same reason. A frontal separation of the driveshaft is not good. All of mine are long.
I have been collecting 904 slip yokes, I have a long one and the rest are shorter. The long one slips into the transmission and goes all the way in with no interference. I read a TSB??? that the yokes all had longer ends till it was discovered it caused a driveline vibration so they all got shortened. The long end does not have any splines in it and it is a smaller OD than the seal area. If the long one was cut off at the step in the OD it would be exactly the same length as the short one
How long is that longest one? Mine is about 6 1/4 inches.
IIRC another 3.5 inches give or take I'll look far a photo.
