Nightmare1508
New Member
- Joined
- November 15, 2016
- Messages
- 3
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- Dwight, IL
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2001 Ford Explorer
Hello everyone, this is my first post here, so go easy on me lol. I'm not new to ford at all, just new modifying explorers. My 97 i had, i never modified. Just kept it stock until i rolled it and sold it.
I've done some reading about the DC vs VC and I'm not sure if i've found all the information i need so i'd like some clarification if you guys could.
1st let me start with my issue. I picked up a 2001 Ford Explorer AWD for $250 and drove it home. I was told the front diff was bad, as it jerked really hard in gentle turns. I took it for a test drive and it definitely seemed more than a bad CV shaft. On my 15 mile trip home the truck ran great. i hit 70 with no issue until you let off the throttle and you got a ugly drive line vibration. As long as you kept some kind of load it wouldn't vibrate. I get it home and start tearing the front end apart. Both CVs seem okay. FL was replaced at some point and the FR looked original. Both boots were intact on each side and i couldn't feel anything wrong with either. So i moved on to the axle. After dropping it, I took the diff cover off and found a nice healthy looking ring and pinion. Fluid was old but no shavings, spiders were clean, no rust or pitting. Seemed like a very good diff for 198k. Couldn't even get any play in the bearings.
As you can imagine i was both excited and annoyed. I didn't have to rebuild the Diff, but now wtf is wrong with it. My only guess is the CV shafts are bad so i'll be replacing those. I'm hoping that will fix my problem, but now i'm facing another issue. This front driveshaft. In my hast to remove the front axle i managed to rip the boot on the driveshaft and pull the shaft out of what appears to be the driveshaft CV. I've looked it up and have found many replacement shafts and rebuild kits. I do not like this ugly shaft at all. To me it seems like trouble waiting to happen. I want to go with the DC, as i would like to lift this thing. Seeing as its will need DC with a lift i want to just get it out of the way now since the shaft is already messed up. Also note, putting it into 4x4 didn't really affect the hard jerking, but you could definitely tell it was in 4x4 now when turning sharp.
So here is my questions for you guys.
Can I just take a DC shaft out of another explorer or ranger?
If so, what years, or what other vehicles can i get a shaft from?
I know the axle is live all the time, but is there any way to get true 2wd or do i have to swap out the Tcase?
Is there anything else that could have caused the severe jerking on light turns?
Am i barking up the wrong tree?
Could this be an issue in the rear end?
I look forward to reading your replies. Thanks!!!
I've done some reading about the DC vs VC and I'm not sure if i've found all the information i need so i'd like some clarification if you guys could.
1st let me start with my issue. I picked up a 2001 Ford Explorer AWD for $250 and drove it home. I was told the front diff was bad, as it jerked really hard in gentle turns. I took it for a test drive and it definitely seemed more than a bad CV shaft. On my 15 mile trip home the truck ran great. i hit 70 with no issue until you let off the throttle and you got a ugly drive line vibration. As long as you kept some kind of load it wouldn't vibrate. I get it home and start tearing the front end apart. Both CVs seem okay. FL was replaced at some point and the FR looked original. Both boots were intact on each side and i couldn't feel anything wrong with either. So i moved on to the axle. After dropping it, I took the diff cover off and found a nice healthy looking ring and pinion. Fluid was old but no shavings, spiders were clean, no rust or pitting. Seemed like a very good diff for 198k. Couldn't even get any play in the bearings.
As you can imagine i was both excited and annoyed. I didn't have to rebuild the Diff, but now wtf is wrong with it. My only guess is the CV shafts are bad so i'll be replacing those. I'm hoping that will fix my problem, but now i'm facing another issue. This front driveshaft. In my hast to remove the front axle i managed to rip the boot on the driveshaft and pull the shaft out of what appears to be the driveshaft CV. I've looked it up and have found many replacement shafts and rebuild kits. I do not like this ugly shaft at all. To me it seems like trouble waiting to happen. I want to go with the DC, as i would like to lift this thing. Seeing as its will need DC with a lift i want to just get it out of the way now since the shaft is already messed up. Also note, putting it into 4x4 didn't really affect the hard jerking, but you could definitely tell it was in 4x4 now when turning sharp.
So here is my questions for you guys.
Can I just take a DC shaft out of another explorer or ranger?
If so, what years, or what other vehicles can i get a shaft from?
I know the axle is live all the time, but is there any way to get true 2wd or do i have to swap out the Tcase?
Is there anything else that could have caused the severe jerking on light turns?
Am i barking up the wrong tree?
Could this be an issue in the rear end?
I look forward to reading your replies. Thanks!!!
