'07 Eddie Bauer 4.0L 5R55S - No Front Drive Shaft (it's Missing)

[Skapr1]

My Explorer needs transmission work (reverse started slipping) and the mechanic phoned me stating I had no front drive shaft installed. That's the way I bought it about 18 months ago (because I don't think it would just fall out). So the whole time I never had 4 wheel drive. Unbelievable, right?

For reference my Eddie Bauer Explorer has 4x4 low, 4x4 high and 4x4 automatic. I got stuck in the snow is when the reverse issue started. In 4x4 low I asked the people who helped push me if the front wheels was spinning and they said no.


My question is for what reason(s) would someone remove it?

 

[ThunderbirdSport]

On some of the 5.0/AWD units that were of the previous generation, sometimes people would remove the front 'shaft when the CV joint part would get bad. Causes a vibration, the longer it goes, the worse it gets too. Then they go price a remanned unit and just take the old one out and forget about it.

I bought a '98 like that. First time it snowed, and I got stuck....I got about 3 kinds of pissed off. Found one in a JY, it's going bad, needs rebuilt, but before I could get it to the machine shop, I bought my '06 and parked the '98.

 

[Skapr1]

Thanks for your reply ThunderbirdSport.

I've read about the front drive shaft removal of older vehicles for whatever reason but not on a 2007.. the mechanic said the bolts on the one end were sheared off and needed to be drilled out.

Transmission replaced and drive shaft installed, now I have reverse and 4 wheel drive.