Driveshaft WTF?

TomN · #1 06-15-2011, 02:48 PM

Friday night my driveshaft snapped on me.
See thread:

I ordered the part off rockauto and got it today. It is about 6" to short when fully extended, and every other one i found online is labeled 40 1/2", this one wasnt labeled. The 40 1/2" is too short. I checked my junkyard and got nothing, but i was only looking at rangers. Anyone know if an Explorer driveshaft would work?

Clinton · #2 06-15-2011, 02:51 PM

WTF again???

01_ranger_4x4 · #3 06-15-2011, 02:54 PM

no, an explorer shaft wont work. when replacing the shaft you have to be sure that it comes from a truck with the wheelbase, engine, trans and has to be a 4x4 or it wont be the right length. another option would be to have a local driveline shop rebuild it. I had the rear shaft on my 01 rebuilt (new tube, new u-joints, balanced and painted) for $100

HazardousRanger · #4 06-15-2011, 02:56 PM

100 doesnt seem too shabby for that kind of necesscity

TomN · #5 06-15-2011, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 01_ranger_4x4

no, an explorer shaft wont work. when replacing the shaft you have to be sure that it comes from a truck with the wheelbase, engine, trans and has to be a 4x4 or it wont be the right length. another option would be to have a local driveline shop rebuild it. I had the rear shaft on my 01 rebuilt (new tube, new u-joints, balanced and painted) for $100

I just looked under my Dad's 1997 5.0 Explorer and the shaft looks as tho if it extends like the one on my truck does, it would work.

How long ago did you have the shaft rebulit? $100 would be pocket change at this point as the first shaft I got cost me over 3 bills.

01_ranger_4x4 · #6 06-15-2011, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomN

I just looked under my Dad's 1997 5.0 Explorer and the shaft looks as tho if it extends like the one on my truck does, it would work.

How long ago did you have the shaft rebulit? $100 would be pocket change at this point as the first shaft I got cost me over 3 bills.

well try the exploder shaft but dont ever extend it. my shaft was rebuilt in 2002 so its been a while. it wouldnt hurt to call around to some local shops to price a rebuild.

TomN · #7 06-15-2011, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 01_ranger_4x4

well try the exploder shaft but dont ever extend it. my shaft was rebuilt in 2002 so its been a while. it wouldnt hurt to call around to some local shops to price a rebuild.

How far would over extending it be?

01_ranger_4x4 · #8 06-15-2011, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomN

How far would over extending it be?

it depends on how long the shaft is and how long the splines are on the slip joint. what i would do would be to separate both shafts at teh slip joint and measure both parts of both shafts to be absolutely sure they are the same length.

brinker88 · #9 06-15-2011, 03:50 PM

...I dont see a broken driveshaft...I see a failed u-joint(hence it missing) and a possible broken yoke.

TomN · #10 06-15-2011, 04:04 PM

The ujoint did fail, but the part is goes into on the shaft inself is messed up.
Wouold more Pictures help?

TomN · #11 06-15-2011, 04:23 PM

More pictures to help my cause. haha
This side bolts to the diff.

brinker88 · #12 06-15-2011, 05:44 PM

That driveshaft looks like it can be saved...get those u-joint caps out of there and see.

TomN · #13 06-15-2011, 06:09 PM

I'm not real sure what that means. lol
This is new for me.

pooleo · #14 06-15-2011, 06:28 PM

that looks fine to me. knock the end caps out and inspect damage. if the holes are round and not oblonged, you might be ok.

as for the shaft being short, the shortest possible drive shaft would be from a 4wd short box with a 2 piece shaft. your pics looks like its a one piece. I bet you got the 2 piece shaft, that is why its short.

ben10 · #15 06-15-2011, 06:34 PM

yeah man, the d-shaft looks ok, take a socket thats just smaller than the hole in the driveline, and take a hammer and knock out the ujoint caps.