No front driveshaft!!!

[broncobilly69]

I recently bought a 2000 Ford Explorer 4.0L SOHC 4x4 4 door and didn't crawl under it until after I bought it. I know what a rookie mistake but its really the first vehicle I've bought that wasn't out of necessity.

So i have no front driveshaft and have been looking around for the right one. The front axle has a standard yoke for a u-joint but the transfer case end has just a flat round plate. After looking at the images on several different site I can't imagine how that driveshaft is going to fit a flat plate because its round. Any help would be appreciated.

I can post pics of what I have. Thanks.

 

[section525]

You can't imagine how what driveshaft is going to fit?

Someone may have replaced your transfer case with one from a different year and then realized the driveshaft wouldn't work. There are a couple different types through out the years. Not sure what the year-breakdown is.


You need one that looks like this?

But you have this type?

 

[broncobilly69]

The top picture is what I believe I would need. It has six holes that are threaded. I cannot find this driveshaft on a website when searching for a 2000.

The bottom picture seems to be the most common especially in part searching. This cannot fit my transfer case flat round plate because of the bulge.

Remember I have no driveshaft in which to compare. Nice pics by the way.

 

[imp]

The top picture is what I believe I would need. It has six holes that are threaded. I cannot find this driveshaft on a website when searching for a 2000.

The bottom picture seems to be the most common especially in part searching. This cannot fit my transfer case flat round plate because of the bulge.

Remember I have no driveshaft in which to compare. Nice pics by the way.

Check the part on your transfer case: it likely has a concaved hollow into which the "bulge" shown on the C-V joint fits. This is held in place by six long metric bolts, I believe they are 8mm diameter......imp

(The other U-joint shown is a "Double-Cardan" Constant Velocity Joint, which I have not seen used on Explorers '96 and up, earlier I am not sure.)

 

[broncobilly69]

Thanks. I'll take a closer look tomorrow. And let you know. If I don't agree I put up some pics.

 

[broncobilly69]

Ok so I checked out my t-case and found the concave cavity for the CV driveshaft to go in. Thanks a lot on that. Went to oreillys and got a remaned driveshaft and strap kit. The only problem now is oreilly doesn't have the six bolts to attach the driveshaft to the t-case.

So, I need the length, size, thread type of the six bolts. Thanks.

 

[imp]

Ok so I checked out my t-case and found the concave cavity for the CV driveshaft to go in. Thanks a lot on that. Went to oreillys and got a remaned driveshaft and strap kit. The only problem now is oreilly doesn't have the six bolts to attach the driveshaft to the t-case.

So, I need the length, size, thread type of the six bolts. I used Socket Head (Allen type) cap screws on mine, (the original bolts have puny-assed size hex heads, around 5/16". The bolts are METRIC, and I'll have to pull this out of memory, but they ARE 8mm diameter by thread pitch I think, 1.5mm, anyway, it's the FINE THREAD series. The LENGTH you will have to figure out for yourself, measure the thickness of the C-V through which the bolts pass, and add 3/4-inch. That will give you plenty of thread engagement. Originals come from Ford LOC-TITED, so not a bad idea to Loc-Tite the new bolts.

Sorry I can't give you exact info; I'm away from my shop for 4 months.....,
Far Away...., like 2,000 miles.......imp

EDIT: You do not need to use Allen screws; they are very strong, but may be not easy to find. I ordered them from MSC.com. If you use hex-head metric screws, be sure their strength rating is 10.9 (usually marked on bolt head). I broke 2 sockets loosening the damned Ford loc-tited bolts, was why I went to Allen-type.

 

[vroomzoomboom]

if you can wait a bit, i am going to be pulling a tranny out of my parts truck in the next week or two. you can have the bolts.

 

[broncobilly69]

if you can wait a bit, i am going to be pulling a tranny out of my parts truck in the next week or two. you can have the bolts.

That would be awesome! I bought some from Home Depot but they only had grade five bolts and not really the right length.

 

[broncobilly69]

Ok boys. New problem. I bought a driveshaft from Oreilly's for $240 plus $40 dollar core and the strap kit. I bought some metric bolts from Home Depot (btw the bolts are M8-1.25 x 60mm. The length was a judge on my part they work well)

Well as I was fitting it in I bolted the t-case side first cause it was the most probable for problems. Then I stretched it out to hook it up to the front axle and it was too short! I pulled pretty hard and it had some play in the cv joint but theres no way its going to fit. I need another 1.5 to 2 inches more. I looked at some parts sites but nothing about a slightly longer shaft or any mesurements really.

Any help on this would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[broncobilly69]

Just got done talking to Oreillys and asked them if there was a longer one or a different part number. The parts girl couldn't even relate my vehicle to the driveshaft that I bought. Weird. Well she ordered one that came up with the vehicle when she was looking. Ordered it from Houston so should be here at 4:30 ish. Wish me luck.

 

[broncobilly69]

Ok. So I installed the front driveshaft yesterday came out beautiful. Went to the beach and dug a few holes in 2wd to "get stuck" then put in in 4hi and 4lo and pulled out beautiful. Drives fine on the road going 50 ish.

Well then I started some slow speed turning in 2wd (Auto) on pavement and get this bad "thump". Usually under power but not always. It feels like maybe the 4x4 didn't disengage.

Other symptoms include:

After turning sharp and going straight on the highway I sometimes feel a pull on the front end (loss of power/drag) and then a thud and returns to normal.

When parked on a hill and go from R to P, let off the brake, the vehicle rolls and pops, rolls and pops, and keeps doing it. I have to hit the brake to stop. If you go from D to P without stopping no popping and rolling just a solid park.

Right now I'm leaning towards CV axles but it could be a differential problem or t-case problem.

Keep in mind no problems listed above were present until I hooked up the front driveshaft.

 

[shadowless127]

Ok. So I installed the front driveshaft yesterday came out beautiful. Went to the beach and dug a few holes in 2wd to "get stuck" then put in in 4hi and 4lo and pulled out beautiful. Drives fine on the road going 50 ish.

Well then I started some slow speed turning in 2wd (Auto) on pavement and get this bad "thump". Usually under power but not always. It feels like maybe the 4x4 didn't disengage.

Other symptoms include:

After turning sharp and going straight on the highway I sometimes feel a pull on the front end (loss of power/drag) and then a thud and returns to normal.

When parked on a hill and go from R to P, let off the brake, the vehicle rolls and pops, rolls and pops, and keeps doing it. I have to hit the brake to stop. If you go from D to P without stopping no popping and rolling just a solid park.

Right now I'm leaning towards CV axles but it could be a differential problem or t-case problem.

Keep in mind no problems listed above were present until I hooked up the front driveshaft.

the first problem sounds like auto 4wd kicking in and out

The parking problem.... Thats a new one.