Front driveshaft compatability

[yugo4life]

I purchased a 2002 Eddie Bauer Explorer this summer with the 4.0. This will be my wifes daily driver in a few months and I am getting everything to make it fully functional. When I purchased it, there was no front driveshaft in it. I knew it was missing, but it was summer time so I didn't think about it. Now that it has been snowing, I could really use the 4wd.

I did some searching here and some of my questions were answered, but I also have more now. Are all front driveshafts the same for the 3rd gen explorer? Does it matter if it is a v8, v6, or AWD?

I saw from other posts that the driveshaft has a large CV joint on the transfer case side and that it can be expensive to replace. I also noticed that the transfer cases seem to be a weak point. I don't know the condition of my transfer case, of course, but I want to know if there is a better alternative to the CV joint on the driveshaft and if there are any other transfer cases that would swap in, be stronger and still allow me to have the automatic 4wd (I would look into a manual transfer case swap, but my wife would not appreciate that)?

So far, this has been a great truck that we picked up for a good price and we are both extremely happy with it.

Thank you,
Tim

 

[yugo4life]

Anyone?

I just want to make sure the front driveshafts are interchangeable from model to model. I would like to assume so, but we all know what assuming does.

Thank you,
Tim

 

[Kevlar7R]

I can't answer the interchangeable part of the question, but you did ask if there was an alternative to the CV joint. I talked to a custom drive shaft shop recently about that. They do make a double cardan version in the aftermarket, but the shop said they STRONGLY don't recommend using it, because it vibrates like crazy. They suggest only using them on trucks that have lockable hubs. In ours, the front axle turns all the time, and therefore the front drive shaft turns all the time, whether it's in 4X4 or not. So, on the highway, your front drive shaft is spinning at highway speeds, even in 2X.

Mine is AWD, and my transfer case is locked up. Therefore, I've given up on replacing the front drive shaft, and I am waiting to do the 4406 swap.

 

[yugo4life]

Kevlar7R,

Thank you for the information. I did not realize that the front end turns all the time. Good to know.

Tim