96 Explorer 5.0 AWD single cardan front driveshaft

[masospaghetti]

My 96 V8 is missing the front shaft, but appears to have the "circular flange" at the transfer case, unlike most other Explorers which either used the CV joint or a double cardan joint.

This is the effective replacement from Napa:

But its a single cardan joint. Is this right?

Here is a shaft from Auto Parts Unlimited with the double cardan, but this is more expensive:

Won't it vibrate like crazy without a double cardan joint?

 

[jremington59]

I don't think either of them are right. It should have a u joint at one end and a cv at the other.

 

[obie]

95, 96, and some 97s still used u-joints instead of the CV. They changed it to reduce vibrations. You can use the single cardan, but if the double isn't much more expensive, I'd recommend that.

 

[masospaghetti]

Any idea how much worse the single cardan will be? It's almost an extra $100 for the double, and I can get the single locally.

I definitely do not have the CV joint.

 

[obie]

A lot depends on how you drive it. I know that they had also changed the transfer case and pinion angle slightly with the GKN CV models too, so that was the biggest reason they dropped the u-joint. If you stay under 65, you probably won't even notice anything different. After that, you might experience vibrations but I've never noticed the older second gens shaking too bad, so I don't think there will be much difference. Though I don't know if the ones I've driven were single or double cardan... The double cardan would pretty much guarantee no shake and last longer, but if it's a hundred more it's not really worth it.

 

[jremington59]

My 97 has the cv end. I didn't know the earlier ones didn't.

 

[masospaghetti]

So I called USA Industries (the rebuilder for Advance Auto) and they confirmed that their shafts have a double cardan at the transfer case. With the promo code TRT30, the price is $235 with core charge, $188 without core. They rebuild these in Illinois. I think I am going to go this route.

Is there anything special about the hardware to bolt up the shaft? Will standard bolts work?

 

[bill06447]

My 97 has the CV joint....

Bill

 

[gavin]

My 97 has the CV joint....

Bill

the change from DC to CV was made mid-97 MY.

OP, you can try a junkyard. May be able to find something close, and then take it to a shop to add a CV. Although in the end it may end up costing just as much.