Does this look right to you? Front driveshaft question

[masospaghetti]

See how the bolt holes aren't symmetric on the flange?

Is this OK/normal? Would this cause vibration? It's a USA Industries driveshaft bought new from Advance.

96 Explorer 5.0 AWD, Thanks all.

 

[R1dd1cK]

Looks funny to me.

 

[albi1cnobi1]

Looks funny to me too. I would think that would vibrate something fierce.

 

[masospaghetti]

Well it does vibrate like crazy, trying to determine if this is why.

 

[DjDom]

That does not look right. Get another one. That's throwing the balance off really bad.

 

[Dave 1955]

Well ford does not have symmetrical awd so you should be fine! lol

maybe it's for making sure it only bolts up one way..but I doubt it..chit don't seem right at all..but how could they screw that up that bad and not notice it??

 

[drdoom]

A lot of the new rotors and drums vibrate bad too. Lots of bad parts out there these days. I could guess the countrry of origin just by the bolt "pattern".

 

[masospaghetti]

I called USA industries and they said these are remanufactured in the USA, surprisingly.

 

[delexploder]

Why is your pic gone already?

 

[masospaghetti]

I still see it, you don't?

 

[delexploder]

I see it now ,wow that would piss me off

 

[masospaghetti]

So it sounds like everyone agrees, the driveshaft is flawed. I even called USA Industries and they basically confirmed that its flawed, without saying it outright.

That being said, this is a special order item, so how likely is it to cause vibration?

 

[delexploder]

Man you could go to tractor supply and get something that looks better than that, make them replace it,if they overlooked that then who knows what else is wrong, balance ,phase ,length, wields, I've learned to be very picky about hard parts, all the local stores I use are to the point that they will look at the part before they hand it to me, its just good business.

 

[Dave 1955]

Does your old one look like that?

 

[drdoom]

I guess if they got it balanced like that, it won't matter that much. What do the weights look like? Balls I picked up a drum for a sedan recently the weight went HALFWAY around the drum. I told the counter guy to keep it. No kidding.

 

[masospaghetti]

The front shaft was missing when I bought the thing in August, so there's no old one to compare it to

I think there's single quarter-shaped weight on the shaft, but I am not sure without looking at it again.

But USA industries basically confirmed that its not supposed to be that way, their response was basically "well I agree it doesnt look right, BUT it shouldn't affect anything"

 

[SoNic67]

Basically if you draw a circle on the holes centers, it should have the SAME center with the shaft. It really doesn't matter that much how they are spaced apart.

 

[RomeovilleIL]

Take two straight edges and make an X going from the center of bolt hole. The intersection point of the X should be in the center of the ujoint and driveshaft. Cannot tell from your pic if the flange is turned down, but when I drew a couple straight lines on it the X center point was way off from the center of the ujoint.

 

[corkey]

call who made it, tell them it's no good, they should replace it,,
they messed it up, whether or not it's a custom order is a moot point,
if it's not right, it's not right,,

i had a vendor tell me that they wouldn't replace a part for me cause they messed it up, so i gave him a link to my forum thread, and a count of the almost 240,000 members that i am sure some of them would be interested in their product,,
he asked me ,, what color do you want the new one ??

 

[masospaghetti]

I brought the shaft back to Advance. first thing the parts guy says when he saw it: "Wow that looks like ****"

I got a full refund, now I need to find a replacement. Not sure I want to wait 8-10 business days for another one from the same company.

This one looks like the original Ford part, but I know nothing about the brand: http://www.automotivepartsunlimited.com/driveshafts-propshafts/512-front-driveshaft.html

Oreilly's has a A1 Cardone replacement, but it has a single u-joint at the rear instead of the double, I can't see how this would be a good idea.

I might call Tom Woods tomorrow and see what they charge.