One Piece Driveshaft

[EJH]

The less the angles the less wear to the u joint bearings. Ideally the angles should match. I think Ford states =<5 degree tolerance is good.

The same holds true for the front axles. Lifted trucks wear the axle CV Joints faster than non lifted.

All this stated, I simply replaced the driveshaft and called it a day when I had no vibration. But my truck is stock height. I may check the angles when I change the oil and grease the slip joint this time around. Only takes a minute or two, but I am not too worried about it.

I 'll be using this handy little tool to check it.
Klein Tools 935DAG Digital Electronic Level and Angle Gauge

TJC, Do you have any clunk, bump or slop in your slip joint when stopping or starting? Wondering why you need to grease it already? Also, does the TW drivesaft have a boot around the slip joint like the OEM driveshaft?

I ask because my truck has the bump on stop/start (when warm, so 1/2 the year). I have lubed the slip yoke, which improved it a lot (more than 50% better), but it is still present sometimes. Perhaps I need to do a better lube job, or perhaps my OEM driveshaft is just poor quality.

I have zero vibration when moving at any speed up to 80mph. I would consider replacing the driveshaft if it solves the stop/start bump or clunk. However, since I have no vibration issues, $700 plus the possible denial of future warranty work on transmission, etc is a hard sell to me.

I do have an appt w/ Ford to look at the bump on stop/start in a month. I am not optimistic though we will see.

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[TJC]

TJC, Do you have any clunk, bump or slop in your slip joint when stopping or starting? Wondering why you need to grease it already? Also, does the TW drivesaft have a boot around the slip joint like the OEM driveshaft?

I ask because my truck has the bump on stop/start (when warm, so 1/2 the year). I have lubed the slip yoke, which improved it a lot (more than 50% better), but it is still present sometimes. Perhaps I need to do a better lube job, or perhaps my OEM driveshaft is just poor quality.

I have zero vibration when moving at any speed up to 80mph. I would consider replacing the driveshaft if it solves the stop/start bump or clunk. However, since I have no vibration issues, $700 plus the possible denial of future warranty work on transmission, etc is a hard sell to me.

I do have an appt w/ Ford to look at the bump on stop/start in a month. I am not optimistic though we will see.

I did on the old Ford drive shaft but not yet on the TW one piece DS, and I have it on for about a year now. It has been very smooth, no clunks or hard jerks.

There is no boot, but a sleeve is installed that wipes the grit and grime off the spline teeth when the slip joint expands and contracts. As a general rule I plan to lube if annually. It is going to happen when I change the oil shortly.

I am still very happy with the drive shaft. It is the best change that I have made to the truck. Transmission still acts up a little every now and then, but noting like before.

 

[Rotortech]

TJC, Do you have any clunk, bump or slop in your slip joint when stopping or starting? Wondering why you need to grease it already? Also, does the TW drivesaft have a boot around the slip joint like the OEM driveshaft?

I ask because my truck has the bump on stop/start (when warm, so 1/2 the year). I have lubed the slip yoke, which improved it a lot (more than 50% better), but it is still present sometimes. Perhaps I need to do a better lube job, or perhaps my OEM driveshaft is just poor quality.

I have zero vibration when moving at any speed up to 80mph. I would consider replacing the driveshaft if it solves the stop/start bump or clunk. However, since I have no vibration issues, $700 plus the possible denial of future warranty work on transmission, etc is a hard sell to me.

I do have an appt w/ Ford to look at the bump on stop/start in a month. I am not optimistic though we will see.

I'll chime in with my personal experience regarding the slip yoke thump. I had it on the stock driveshaft, when temps were above 75 degrees or so. Greasing it helped for a while, but it came back. Unfortunately in my case, I do get the same thing with my Tom Woods one piece. Again, when the temps are above 75 degrees. There's plenty of grease too, without a doubt. I even took the slip yoke back off, cleaned out the Lucas Red N Tacky I had in there, and replaced it with Sta Lube Moly Graph, but the thump in warm temps is exactly as the previous grease. I've just learned to deal with it, because my takeoff shudder that I hated so much is gone. Of course, if anyone who's running a Tom Woods shaft runs a grease they believe is better than the two I've tried, I'd be happy to try another switch.

 

[CO2Ranger]

I'll chime in with my personal experience regarding the slip yoke thump. I had it on the stock driveshaft, when temps were above 75 degrees or so. Greasing it helped for a while, but it came back. Unfortunately in my case, I do get the same thing with my Tom Woods one piece. Again, when the temps are above 75 degrees. There's plenty of grease too, without a doubt. I even took the slip yoke back off, cleaned out the Lucas Red N Tacky I had in there, and replaced it with Sta Lube Moly Graph, but the thump in warm temps is exactly as the previous grease. I've just learned to deal with it, because my takeoff shudder that I hated so much is gone. Of course, if anyone who's running a Tom Woods shaft runs a grease they believe is better than the two I've tried, I'd be happy to try another switch.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Blaster...Cartridge-for-Grease-Gun-GR-14C-HDG/302972958

This stuff worked for me NLGI#2 since that's what TW recommends. You could tell when it was needing a refill still though.

 

[Rotortech]

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Blaster...Cartridge-for-Grease-Gun-GR-14C-HDG/302972958

This stuff worked for me NLGI#2 since that's what TW recommends. You could tell when it was needing a refill still though.

Gotcha. I went back and double checked what TW recommends on their site, and that's the part I was missing. Ideally I should be using calcium sulfonate grease, rather than lithium. I'll try going that route, thanks!

 

[EJH]

I'll chime in with my personal experience regarding the slip yoke thump. I had it on the stock driveshaft, when temps were above 75 degrees or so. Greasing it helped for a while, but it came back. Unfortunately in my case, I do get the same thing with my Tom Woods one piece. Again, when the temps are above 75 degrees. There's plenty of grease too, without a doubt. I even took the slip yoke back off, cleaned out the Lucas Red N Tacky I had in there, and replaced it with Sta Lube Moly Graph, but the thump in warm temps is exactly as the previous grease. I've just learned to deal with it, because my takeoff shudder that I hated so much is gone. Of course, if anyone who's running a Tom Woods shaft runs a grease they believe is better than the two I've tried, I'd be happy to try another switch.

That is interesting and potentially concerning. Thank you for posting this. If you get the same bump on stop and start with the TW driveshaft. I wonder if there is some other contributing reason this happens, other than the slip yoke. I have also not found a good reason why this is temperature dependent. I'm very interested to hear how things go for you when you use the different grease. I will probably try a different grease myself next spring. I am now hesitant to move to the TW shaft just to solve this thump/bump.

The thump/bump is really my only complaint about this truck. It is better after lubing, but not gone. The FX4 suspension was horrid, but that was easily resolved with Fox.

 

[TJC]

That is interesting and potentially concerning. Thank you for posting this. If you get the same bump on stop and start with the TW driveshaft. I wonder if there is some other contributing reason this happens, other than the slip yoke. I have also not found a good reason why this is temperature dependent. I'm very interested to hear how things go for you when you use the different grease. I will probably try a different grease myself next spring. I am now hesitant to move to the TW shaft just to solve this thump/bump.

The thump/bump is really my only complaint about this truck. It is better after lubing, but not gone. The FX4 suspension was horrid, but that was easily resolved with Fox.

My 2005 Ranger had to have the slip joint greased on occasion due to the thump. No thumping on the 2020 yet, but I have the grease ready to go come this next oil change. I give it a squirt annually whether it needs it or not.

 

[Dr3wDrop]

I'll chime in with my personal experience regarding the slip yoke thump. I had it on the stock driveshaft, when temps were above 75 degrees or so. Greasing it helped for a while, but it came back. Unfortunately in my case, I do get the same thing with my Tom Woods one piece. Again, when the temps are above 75 degrees. There's plenty of grease too, without a doubt. I even took the slip yoke back off, cleaned out the Lucas Red N Tacky I had in there, and replaced it with Sta Lube Moly Graph, but the thump in warm temps is exactly as the previous grease. I've just learned to deal with it, because my takeoff shudder that I hated so much is gone. Of course, if anyone who's running a Tom Woods shaft runs a grease they believe is better than the two I've tried, I'd be happy to try another switch.

Have you checked the Rear Diff?

 

[EJH]

Have you checked the Rear Diff?

What would one check with the rear diff?

When I lubed the slip yoke, it helped, but not 100%. I would not be surprised if something else is contributing and lubing the skip yoke just helps out but is not the real issue.

I will also add that going to full Fox suspension helped me also. I am nearly sure that is because aftermarket suspension upgrades don't allow the truck to nose dive on stop and porpoise front to back on stop and start as much as stock trucks.

I have an appt at my dealer in a couple weeks for the thump/bump on start stop. I have mixed hopes on whether they are able to help solve this. Alternatively, I will just lube the slip joint each spring, which does help.

 

[Dr3wDrop]

What would one check with the rear diff?

When I lubed the slip yoke, it helped, but not 100%. I would not be surprised if something else is contributing and lubing the skip yoke just helps out but is not the real issue.

I will also add that going to full Fox suspension helped me also. I am nearly sure that is because aftermarket suspension upgrades don't allow the truck to nose dive on stop and porpoise front to back on stop and start as much as stock trucks.

I have an appt at my dealer in a couple weeks for the thump/bump on start stop. I have mixed hopes on whether they are able to help solve this. Alternatively, I will just lube the slip joint each spring, which does help.

I had an old Jeep YJ that had a clunk drive type feeling that ended up blowing up the rear diff gears. Maybe you can take the cover off with a fluid change just to look around. Couldnt hurt if you are trying to chase things down.

 

[Rotortech]

I received the calcium sulfonate grease I ordered today. So I'll pull the slip yoke off tomorrow morning, clean it really good, and apply the new grease.

It's most definitely temperature related in my case. It was late spring when I first installed the TW shaft, when temps were cooler. I had no slip yoke sticking issues at all until things warmed up mid summer. Now, I can apply fresh grease, and in less than a day it's thumping again on stop / start. Not at all severe, just enough to notice it.

By the way, I'm totally stock, no suspension mods at all, rolling along on the total crap fx4 suspension, haha. Truck has less than 9000 miles.

I'll certainly post back with my experience with the CS grease.

 

[EJH]

I received the calcium sulfonate grease I ordered today. So I'll pull the slip yoke off tomorrow morning, clean it really good, and apply the new grease.

It's most definitely temperature related in my case. It was late spring when I first installed the TW shaft, when temps were cooler. I had no slip yoke sticking issues at all until things warmed up mid summer. Now, I can apply fresh grease, and in less than a day it's thumping again on stop / start. Not at all severe, just enough to notice it.

By the way, I'm totally stock, no suspension mods at all, rolling along on the total crap fx4 suspension, haha. Truck has less than 9000 miles.

I'll certainly post back with my experience with the CS grease.

I'm in Oregon also and have the same 'season' for the thump/bump....right around May-Sept. I'm anxious how the new grease works. I used the Ford white stuff on my two-piece yoke and will definitely use something else next time.

 

[2021Ranger]

I have that bump on stoping and starting and have the TW shaft, Icon rear springs and shocks. I honestly don’t think it’s the slip joint in the shaft. I cleaned the splines totally and put it together dry and there is very little movement And the over size of the splines is more than enough to take care of the movement. Now I cant put the pressure that the engine can put on it but the grease should take care of that. I don’t have one but I think putting a go pro in different places on the chassis may find our issue. I’m wondering if it‘s the trans down shifting but it also does if taking off..
Any other thought’s??

 

[RedDakooter05]

I have that bump on stoping and starting and have the TW shaft, Icon rear springs and shocks. I honestly don’t think it’s the slip joint in the shaft. I cleaned the splines totally and put it together dry and there is very little movement And the over size of the splines is more than enough to take care of the movement. Now I cant put the pressure that the engine can put on it but the grease should take care of that. I don’t have one but I think putting a go pro in different places on the chassis may find our issue. I’m wondering if it‘s the trans down shifting but it also does if taking off..
Any other thought’s??

Well I still have the junk 2pc oem shaft and can wiggle it freely all around the bearing.

When I did this, I took note of excessive movement of the transmission/tailshaft.

Take that as you will, no idea what else could be clunking other than sticking calipers or a something with the leaf springs/shackles.

 

[Rotortech]

I've had a couple of days to drive around after cleaning the lithium grease out of the slip yoke, and applying calcium sulfonate grease. I'm trying not to get my hopes up yet, but this is by far the smoothest my Tom Woods driveshaft has felt on stops and starts. So far, absolutely no hint whatsoever of slip yoke thump. Before, with the lithium grease in hot weather, I could apply fresh grease and within a few city blocks, it was thumping again on stop / starts. Now, nothing, smooth as can be. Another thing I noticed, is the CS grease isn't making it's way down the splines, past the dust cap, and flying out all over the underside of the truck like the lithium grease did.

Time will tell of course. The weather in Oregon is really hot right now, over 100 degrees, so this will be a good test. I'll do my normal commute to work this week, and report back next weekend. I think I'll know by then if the grease type was truly the culprit.

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