Patent ID: 7507161

Claim:
A propeller shaft assembly, comprising: a tubular propeller shaft; a constant velocity joint having an inner race and an outer race drivingly interconnected by a plurality of balls; and a stub shaft having a first end fixed to said propeller shaft and a second end drivingly connected to and in receipt of an end portion of said inner race, wherein said outer race is axially moveable between first and second positions relative to said inner race, said first position being axially closer to said propeller shaft than said second position, wherein said inner race has a stop preventing said outer race from axially moving beyond said first position toward said propeller shaft, wherein said inner race is rotatably driven about a first rotary axis common with said propeller shaft and said stub shaft, wherein said outer race rotates about a second rotary axis that is angulated relative to said first rotary axis at each of said first and second positions, wherein said second end of said stub shaft has an outer diameter that is smaller than a maximum outer diameter of said inner race, and wherein an outer surface on said inner race upon which said balls engage is parallel to said first rotary axis.