Does this look right to you? Front driveshaft question

[Dave 1955]

for giggles ..actually in case i ever need one i looked up one for mine and get this strange looking thing.

http://www.1aauto.com/1A/front-drive-shaft/Ford/Explorer/CADSH00003/476526

 

[RomeovilleIL]

^ ^ ^

That is the updated prop shaft that Ford switch to after 97. It uses a CV joint instead of u-joints.

Honestly the double cardon u-jointed shafts are notorious for being unbalanced/unbalanceable. Check through any of the modified threads where guys have put in a manual 4x4 with one of these double cardon shafts and inevitably there will be complaints of vibration. I have heard good results from the single u-joint replacement shafts even though it would seem to be a step down in design. If you think about it though the single joint design is the standard for just about all rear wheel drives. I think the double cardon was originally chosen due to the angle, but it only took a couple model years for Ford to abandon it.

 

[masospaghetti]

That's good information. I checked through some threads and I couldn't find anything conclusive though.

The problem that i see with the single joint shaft is that the operating angle at the front diff is not the same as the rear, because it was designed for a double cardan. But this is speculation.

A local rebuilder can make the double-cardan shaft for $240+40 core which is decent if the quality is there. He insists that it will not vibrate if the shaft is balanced correctly. Tom woods quoted $429, a bit too rich for my rig.

 

[RomeovilleIL]

My advice would be to get the single joint shaft from O'Reilly's or somewhere else you can return it if doesnt run right. Chances are it will probably work correctly given that it is the recommended "upgrade" part. If not, you can always go back to the custom builder.

As an aside, there may be problems other than the shaft itself that caused the former owner to remove it.

 

[SoNic67]

To OP: What kind of TC you have?
You might want to think twice if you had the AWD one (BW4404), driving without front shaft, by now the VC is probably toasted/in need of replacement.

 

[masospaghetti]

Yeah its the BW4404, we were talking about the VC in another thread. So far the VC seems OK.