Missing front driveshaft!

[Chris-1997]

Just found out my 97 mercury mountaineer doesn't have a front drive shaft only a rear am I missing something? Should I add the front driveshaft and will it improve it at all?

 

[XLTrunner]

Very likely previous owner removed the drive shaft due to problems with the 4x4 function (i.e transfer case). Pretty common work-around if you don't want to spend the money to fix it.

 

[Chris-1997]

Very likely previous owner removed the drive shaft due to problems with the 4x4 function (i.e transfer case). Pretty common work-around if you don't want to spend the money to fix it.

Thanks my car does roll a couple of inches after Putting car in park should I be worried? It's never actually rolled more than that and I engage the e-brake most of the time and it helps.

 

[fastpakr]

I hesitate to ask, but are you sure it's not a 2wd Mountaineer?

 

[Chris-1997]

I hesitate to ask, but are you sure it's not a 2wd Mountaineer?

No I'm sure my car says all wheel drive under the v8 badge

 

[fastpakr]

Excellent! I'm always surprised by how many 2wd Explorer's and Mountaineers are out there. Just bought one as a parts donor on Sunday.

 

[koda2000]

I hesitate to ask, but are you sure it's not a 2wd Mountaineer?

I was wondering the same thing.

Is it a V8 or a V6? it makes a difference. If it's an V8 it's not 4WD, it's AWD. I've never seem a badge that actually said AWD, but maybe a '97 would say that. A V8 with the front shaft missing is almost always a sign of t-case problems. An AWD w/out a front shaft often will creep away in PARK because of the way the AWD works. If you end up needing to replace the t-case, consider replacing it with a manual BW4406 t-case out of an F150.

 

[Chris-1997]

I was wondering the same thing.

Is it a V8 or a V6? it makes a difference. If it's an V8 it's not 4WD, it's AWD. I've never seem a badge that actually said AWD, but maybe a '97 would say that. A V8 with the front shaft missing is almost always a sign of t-case problems. An AWD w/out a front shaft often will creep away in PARK because of the way the AWD works. If you end up needing to replace the t-case, consider replacing it with a manual BW4406 t-case out of an F150.

I'll go with the Bw4406 if it gets bad quick question if the t-case is Bad why doesn't it affect the rear drive shaft? And I just replaced the output shaft seal and the yolk nut was a nylock I reused it as I couldn't find a new one is that ok? I used red loctite and torqued it to 170 pounds should I be worried if it backing off? If it matters I only drive 55 and accelerate fairly slowly as gas is expensive and I'm being gentle on the engine. And here is the photo of the v8 badge with all wheel drive it's in 2 locations but this is from the back

 

[fastpakr]

Nice of Mercury to actually badge the Mountaineers with an AWD indication. As far as I've ever seen, the V8 Explorer's have nothing externally to distinguish whether they're AWD or 2WD.

 

[koda2000]

Nice of Mercury to actually badge the Mountaineers with an AWD indication. As far as I've ever seen, the V8 Explorer's have nothing externally to distinguish whether they're AWD or 2WD.

My 2000 Mountaineer had no AWD badge. I actually bought it believing it was a 2WD. I was shocked when I removed a front hub cap and saw the axle nuts.

 

[koda2000]

I'll go with the Bw4406 if it gets bad quick question if the t-case is Bad why doesn't it affect the rear drive shaft? And I just replaced the output shaft seal and the yolk nut was a nylock I reused it as I couldn't find a new one is that ok? I used red loctite and torqued it to 170 pounds should I be worried if it backing off? If it matters I only drive 55 and accelerate fairly slowly as gas is expensive and I'm being gentle on the engine. And here is the photo of the v8 badge with all wheel drive it's in 2 locations but this is from the back

View attachment 152559

I've removed the rear yoke to replace the seal and reused the original nut w/out a problem. I did not use Loctite on it. Most of the power on the AWD's is delivered to the rear wheels. I've never read of any issue with the rear shaft when the AWD t-case goes bad, other than a tendency for the truck to "creep" in PARK. When the t-case goes bad (specifically the viscous coupling) the front shaft experiences binding. I imagine removing the front DS causes the t-case to deliver 100% (rather than the usual 65%) of the power to the rear wheels. If I were you I'd carry and use some wheel chocks until you get things figured out. Better safe than sorry.

 

[fastpakr]

Nice score. For the price I paid for the donor and a separate transmission I definitely can't complain though.

 

[fastpakr]

Nice of Mercury to actually badge the Mountaineers with an AWD indication. As far as I've ever seen, the V8 Explorer's have nothing externally to distinguish whether they're AWD or 2WD.

Apparently some years of Explorer do have the AWD badge. I saw this the other day driving through town:

 

[Turdle]

My 2000 Mountaineer had no AWD badge. I actually bought it believing it was a 2WD. I was shocked when I removed a front hub cap and saw the axle nuts.

The turdle wagon ( 98 mounty) had no v8 or awd markings, 1st life was as a Oklahoma turnpike authority vehicle. We scored it for the 2wd price as the dealer thought it was 2wd also.

 

[koda2000]

From what I've seen I think '97 was the last year that carried the AWD badge. Strange, you'd think Ford would want to advertise the fact that their vehicles were AWD. How much would it have cost them to include "AWD" as part of the "V8" badge? I also bought our 2000 Monty AWD as a 2WD. My reaction was a bit different that yours though, it was more of an "oh crap" moment for me when I found it was an AWD.

 

[SupaSwope]

When I bought my mounty I was told it was AWD, and they warned me about not having the right size tires and everything. When I started working it I found out it was 2WD, I guess they never knew either....

But When my friend was looking for a car I found him a mounty and a small stealership, They wanted 1100 for it, and when I told the guy it was AWD he was surprised lol

 

[Spudhut]

@koda2000 - My 97' V8 with AWD badge on front fender. Hah - I remember when I went to look at it, the owner said it was 4wd but was missing second driveshaft and he said he could never find the switch to put it in 2wd.