Parts ?? 97 Mountaineer front driveshaft CV joint

[rwcfrank]

I had a loud humming, what felt like binding and an occasional "thump" coming from under my 1997 Mountaineer 5.0 AWD. I pulled the front driveshaft and everything is smooth and the humming, binding and thump are gone. I know it may be the transfer case but I'm willing to try a new CV joint and U-joint in the front shaft. Problem is every parts store lists 98 and up. The shaft is 23 inches weld to weld. Will the Dorman 932-201 work for certain in the 96 build sold new as a 97 model? Other wise I'm glad I replaced the e brake pads this winter I'm going to need them...All comments and opinions are appreciated. PS the truck has 94,000 and is a Cali car so not lots of rust, the u-joint was a little rough and the CV joint looks okay as does the shaft but too many things went away once it was removed so I think it may be the culprit.\\

lastly, it does creep and it passed the "climbing 2X4 trick so the TC seems to be working.

 

[gmanpaint]

I feel your pains when not finding concise information on your year model. I go thru the same on the 95.

Early 97 had the double cardan style and late 97 switched to the CV style I believe. Might be why your having trouble finding the parts listed. If it is double cardan, any part from it back to 91 will work, and if it is CV, any part from it to 01 will work.

There is a possibility it is not the front driveline, and could be the bushings on the front differential are bad. If so, one of those three can cause slack, and a bind. When the bind releases, you get the thump.

There is not much to your T-case, as it is almost hollow compared to 4wd cases. Slack in the chain would be the most obvious item to go bad in it. It would still operate with slack, but you would feel it every time you got on/off the throttle.

Hope some of these ideas helps you in figuring it out.

 

[rwcfrank]

Thanks gmanpaint, it's got the CV style so maybe I'll try the Dorman...