Well I have had my front driveshaft out for a year and a half now and havent had any problems. Other than it too will creep downhill if I dont set the parking brake. I also gained around 4-6mpg. I removed it cause I had a noise coming from the front, like a cluning or banging that got faster as I accelerated. I thought it sounded louder on the drivers side than the passengers.
You didn't ever fix this issue? I have the same problem under acceleration, but I want to fix it. I have never ran my X without the front driveshaft...it just all the sudden started making this cracking noise when I accelerated. On the first start of the evening I would wish that someone could tell me what the noise was and what to replace to fix it.
If I take off the front drive shaft and music goes away...is it the U joint front or back on that driveshaft? Or is it going to be something in the TC at that point? I'm lost on this...mechanic stopped by...had no idea.
There is only one u-joint on each drive shaft and that's at the dif end of each. The tc end has a cv joint.
Most likely if it's popping under acceleration it's one of the cv joints. That's where I'd start my search.
What would the part name be so I can find out how to get a rebuild kit or buy a new one?
If the truck is moving like you say then the issue is the parking pawl. All automatics have a steel pawl(finger) which engages the output shaft drum teeth. There are teeth on the outer portion of a drum at the back of the trans, which are only for park. If the vehicle is moving like that with the sound of the teeth/pawl jumping, they have become damaged.
Under all circumstances it is very wise to apply the parking brake to keep the vehicle from moving while parked. The transmission should not be used to hold the vehicle still. The parking brakes are far easier to service than the trans.
i've had the front drive shaft out of my '97 explorer since christmas for the same binding ,dragging,clunking problem.i've done approx 25000 klm(i live in australia) about 15000 miles with no problems.it does roll back about 8 inches when parked on an incline in park with the hand brake engaged but it did this with the front shaft in.Joined the darkside and removed the front drive shaft today. Noticed right
away no binding and popping on tight turns. Everything seems to move
freely now; hard to explain before seemed like the truck was binding up
and being held back somehow. Drives great & noticed no problems or loss of
power; drove about 100 miles today no issues so far.
Parking Issue Discussed here:
I am using the parking break; but I did not notice any drifting. When put in
park the transmission seemed to hold truck just fine even on an incline. Will
continue to use the parking break anyway.
I will try to keep giving updates here on my darkside adventure.
100 Miles and no issues.
___________________
Brian
96 5.0L AWD w/Bad TC; Now 2WD by removing front driveshaft.
btw.my '97 explorer is 4ltr v6 sohc
The factory AWD TC is a bias split torque unit if you dont have the front DS in it will destroy the Viscous coupling inside.