Driveshaft play

[BS67]

So I've been feeling this bump slip very faintly lately and bit more pronounced when very hot and driving for a while. Truck has 1,800 miles! So I'm leaning towards doing this myself as I don't want to deal with the stealership. Are you jacking it up from the differential? Jack stands on the rear axle , is jacking up the front necessary? Has anyone been able to reuse the boot and clamps? Is everyone using a torque wrench on the bolts?

Here's a great video by quangdog that explains the process!https://www.ranger5g.com/forum/threads/how-to-lubricate-your-driveshaft-slip-joint.16648/

Sponsored

 

[ControlNode]

Just a note on for all those doing this service yourself, you should be ordering all of those driveshaft flange bolts as Ford rates them for 1 use. Same with the carrier bearing to frame bolts.

 

[Kyp317]

Figured I’d update in this thread.
2nd attempt today & they did have the correct driveshaft & they installed it in around a hour or I was there around a hour waiting.

Bump at stop/go is totally gone & there use to be a slight vibration when going down the road I thought was normal & it’s also gone now.

Also reason 1st attempted drive shaft was wrong is IF you have a Tremor even if they use the vehicles VIN it pulls up the wrong driveshaft to order. It lists the Non-Tremor rangers driveshaft. So last time they took the part number off my original one last time & ordered the correct one.

 

[FordRacing]

Did you just remove the 8 bolts on the CV and it separates? Or is there a trick to disconnecting at the axle?

Sorry just saw this, yes remove the eight bolts and it separates from the pinion flange . I had to use a small screw driver to get it loose. I marked the location on the driveshaft both there and where in slips in the yoke just to make sure everything was put back the same way.

 

[FordRacing]

So I've been feeling this bump slip very faintly lately and bit more pronounced when very hot and driving for a while. Truck has 1,800 miles! So I'm leaning towards doing this myself as I don't want to deal with the stealership. Are you jacking it up from the differential? Jack stands on the rear axle , is jacking up the front necessary? Has anyone been able to reuse the boot and clamps? Is everyone using a torque wrench on the bolts?

I didn’t jack mine up at all just slid under and removed driveshaft. Just make sure you set parking brake first. I also blocked front wheels just to be extra safe.I reused boot and clamps ( my clamp wasn’t even tight so it was easy to separate and reuse. I have ordered a replacement just to have in my possession if needed. If you need to jack it up I would recommend placing the jack on each side under the shock mount.

 

[MountainGoat]

Figured I’d update in this thread.
2nd attempt today & they did have the correct driveshaft & they installed it in around a hour or I was there around a hour waiting.

Bump at stop/go is totally gone & there use to be a slight vibration when going down the road I thought was normal & it’s also gone now.

Also reason 1st attempted drive shaft was wrong is IF you have a Tremor even if they use the vehicles VIN it pulls up the wrong driveshaft to order. It lists the Non-Tremor rangers driveshaft. So last time they took the part number off my original one last time & ordered the correct one.

It's good that you got it fixed finally.

I dropped mine off....on Wednesday. My dealer used to be good and quick but looks like they have all new staff and have been working on it since then. Now they're closed so it's gonna sit till Monday. They are really clowning if it takes days to do a couple hours work.

 

[Kyp317]

It's good that you got it fixed finally.

I dropped mine off....on Wednesday. My dealer used to be good and quick but looks like they have all new staff and have been working on it since then. Now they're closed so it's gonna sit till Monday. They are really clowning if it takes days to do a couple hours work.

Luckily the Ford dealer by me has always been pretty good. Hopefully you’ll have your Ranger back on Monday.

 

[BladeRanger]

The rubber insulator around the carrier bearing is really soft the the Rangers. I had the same "bump" feeling until I greased the drive shaft spline. They come with a coating of dry lubricant that's blue from the factory but it's not very good. The F150's have the same issue.

Can we just slide the rubber boot and lube the drive shaft spline, or do we have to removed the shaft? I bought a kit from Amazon learned from another thread here. I asked my dealer here in SoCal and they charged $290 to do it.

 

[machinist85]

Can we just slide the rubber boot and lube the drive shaft spline, or do we have to removed the shaft? I bought a kit from Amazon learned from another thread here. I asked my dealer here in SoCal and they charged $290 to do it.

It has to be removed.

 

[FordRacing]

Can we just slide the rubber boot and lube the drive shaft spline, or do we have to removed the shaft? I bought a kit from Amazon learned from another thread here. I asked my dealer here in SoCal and they charged $290 to do it.

290.00. OMG it takes about 45 minutes and that is not being rushed and just taking your time.

 

[HeWhoWalksBeside]

Dropped mine off at the dealer on Friday for this issue. Just got a call that it's ready and repaired. There is was NO grease from the factory on the slip yoke at all. Brilliant!

 

[MikeyB]

Hey Guys I actually did the boot/grease/clamp job a couple days ago.
Thanks to quangdog for his install video.
I did the job on a a lift at my friend's shop, I would've done it on stands in my driveway, but I'm fat and lazy. The video helps a lot. The job is straightforward. Make your marks at the rear diff, 4 15mm bolts off, cut the boot clamps with snips, and comes right off.
There was no grease on my splines or anywhere.
I bought the Ford Lube, I had brake grease with PTFE, just like the Ford lube but I didn't want to take any chances- one and done. I used half the 3 oz. container it was more than enough. Good stuff.
The bump issue is gone.
I have special tightening pliers for the CV boot clamps, but you can improvise with a pincer or the like.
I cleaned the threads on the 4 diff bolts with a steel brush and dabbed some blue loctite on the threads. Good to go.
In total about a 35 min job, including setting the truck up on the lift.
Thanks to Benny at Levittown for the part.
Good luck guys, Not a big deal, I was hesitant too. Fear of the unknown.

 

[P. A. Schilke]

Dropped mine off at the dealer on Friday for this issue. Just got a call that it's ready and repaired. There is was NO grease from the factory on the slip yoke at all. Brilliant!

There is no grease applied at the Ford Assembly plant. The driveshafts come into the plant from the manufacturer pre lubed...or should be lubed...sounds like Dana dropped the ball...

best,
Phil

 

[MikeyB]

There is no grease applied at the Ford Assembly plant. The driveshafts come into the plant from the manufacturer pre lubed...or should be lubed...sounds like Dana dropped the ball...

best,
Phil

Thanks Phil, I should've been more clear in my post, there was a Very and I mean very, light film of grease when I took it apart - Not 100% dry ?

 

[MountainGoat]

Luckily the Ford dealer by me has always been pretty good. Hopefully you’ll have your Ranger back on Monday.

I did get mine back on Monday. No whine anymore thank God.

The part number for my fix was KB3Z-4W602-A. Driveshaft center support

View attachment 145766

Sponsored