red97
New Member
- Joined
- December 7, 2006
- Messages
- 4
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- Pennsylvania
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 97' XLT
The rear joint on my front driveshaft went bad So i bought a whole new shaft.
Got it home and installed the shaft. Well,, When I went to put it in I noticed that it was a bit to long Maybe 1/2" when fully compressed. I couldn't get the U-joint on the shaft pass the U joint on the differential. I shouldn't have, but I installed it anyway. I had to unbolt the rear mount for the front differential and pull down on it while I slid the U joints together. Took it out for a test drive and noticed the front end was binding up pretty bad when turning, and it was grinding while driving strait. I went less than a mile, and right before I turned into a parking lot to turn around, I heard the rear joint snap. So I babied it back to the house and pulled the new shaft off. Just what I thought, the "cage" on the rear joint snapped in half and the bearings fell out. Ripped the boot, just destroyed the new shaft.
I called the shop and they warrientied it.( gave me a whole new shaft) I explained that it was to long and I didn't think it was the right shaft, but they insisted that they matched them up (the new shaft and the old shaft) and are the same. So I got the new shaft. Took it home, and lined it up. This one is the same size as the one I destroyed. Its not gonna fit.
I was just wondering if there are 2 different shafts on the 97' explorers. Maybe one for the sports and one for the 4 doors? Figured I would ask here before I take this new shaft and pay to have it shortened to fit. I would like to get this fixed though, since I have been driving around without a front shaft since november of last year. It is a pain to find a flat parking spot so that my truck is still there when I come back.
My truck is a 97' explorer xlt. 5.0L v8 and awd It is the 4 door model. Thanks in advance.
Got it home and installed the shaft. Well,, When I went to put it in I noticed that it was a bit to long Maybe 1/2" when fully compressed. I couldn't get the U-joint on the shaft pass the U joint on the differential. I shouldn't have, but I installed it anyway. I had to unbolt the rear mount for the front differential and pull down on it while I slid the U joints together. Took it out for a test drive and noticed the front end was binding up pretty bad when turning, and it was grinding while driving strait. I went less than a mile, and right before I turned into a parking lot to turn around, I heard the rear joint snap. So I babied it back to the house and pulled the new shaft off. Just what I thought, the "cage" on the rear joint snapped in half and the bearings fell out. Ripped the boot, just destroyed the new shaft.
I called the shop and they warrientied it.( gave me a whole new shaft) I explained that it was to long and I didn't think it was the right shaft, but they insisted that they matched them up (the new shaft and the old shaft) and are the same. So I got the new shaft. Took it home, and lined it up. This one is the same size as the one I destroyed. Its not gonna fit.
I was just wondering if there are 2 different shafts on the 97' explorers. Maybe one for the sports and one for the 4 doors? Figured I would ask here before I take this new shaft and pay to have it shortened to fit. I would like to get this fixed though, since I have been driving around without a front shaft since november of last year. It is a pain to find a flat parking spot so that my truck is still there when I come back.
My truck is a 97' explorer xlt. 5.0L v8 and awd It is the 4 door model. Thanks in advance.
