One Piece Driveshaft

[TJC]

But that proves nothing for him.
He could drive mine and feel the same as yours.
I have the original shaft.

I would absolutely love to ride in your truck and you in mine to see if there were differences. My truck is a 4x4 Sport with locking rear diff. What configuration is yours? Too bad you are so far away.

FWIW, I am happy that you do not have the problem.

-T

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[Jason B]

As an added note, this is not isolated to 4x4, as I have a 4x2 with shudder on take-off and some vibration between 70 and 75 MPH. But I'm not at the point (yet) that I can afford the cash for the one-piece, or that it bothers me so much as to be undrivable.

 

[Shawn at Tom Wood's]

Here's an idea:

Who of you with a shuddering drive shaft wants to be a brave pioneer and try pouring polyurethane into your carrier bearing bushing? The stock shaft I have here as a sample has a big cavity on one side of it. I think you could pour polyurethane into this cavity to make a hybrid poly/rubber bearing mount. This would certainly limit how much that center bearing is able to bang around. But the "chicken or the egg" question comes up again. Will this keep the shaft from shuddering or will it simply absorb and dampen less of that shudder and transmit more of it through the vehicle? Dunno, only one way to find out! One of you guys who recently got a one piece shaft would be a perfect candidate to test this out. If you ruin your stock shaft there's not much of a loss since you've already replaced it. Also, you have already established that your stock shaft is one of the ones that has this shudder issue.

I know diddly squat about urethane and bushing materials so I don't know what mixture is ideal for this but just as an example, here's this. https://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/66746751

If this works out for people, since I am bringing the idea forward, I'll split the $3,000 bounty ($1,500) with whoever takes it to a successful and repeatable (10X) conclusion from here. And if it proves itself to be a good solution I'll link it on our website as an alternative to the shaft we offer, but maybe not discontinue the shaft as this seems like it would be, best case scenario, a very DIY thing that not everyone would want nor have the ability to undertake. Then again, this might make no difference or might even make things worse.

 

[Muddy Fenders]

I thought I already won the $3000 bounty?
sheesh, I've been hoodwinked.

 

[NotBudule]

Here's an idea:

Who of you with a shuddering drive shaft wants to be a brave pioneer and try pouring polyurethane into your carrier bearing bushing?

 

[TJC]

I am content to stay with the one piece driveshaft. I don't think the split unit can perform any better than what I am now running. Even if the fix gets rid of most of the shudder, it still will not be as acceptable as the single piece shaft solution.

What does one of these Ford Ranger Driveshafts sell for?

Just checked at fordpartscatalog.com, it sells for $416.25.
FordParts.com had it listed for $512.31

Maybe Ford did use the least expensive option!

Another interesting tidbit of information. While looking at pricing for the genuine Ford 2 piece driveshaft I stumbled upon an article from the The Ranger Station entitled "1-Piece Driveshafts and Why You Want One".
An interesting read... this was for 1983-1997 Extended Cab Ford Rangers. Seems this 2 piece driveshaft issue has been around for a while.

The article outlines how to make the switch from 2 piece to single using a driveshaft from a later model Ranger.

- T

 

[Tremors]

I am content to stay with the one piece driveshaft. I don't think the split unit can perform any better than what I am now running. Even if the fix gets rid of most of the shudder, it still will not be as acceptable as the single piece shaft solution.

What does one of these Ford Ranger Driveshafts sell for?

Just checked at fordpartscatalog.com, it sells for $416.25.
FordParts.com had it listed for $512.31

Maybe Ford did use the least expensive option!

Another interesting tidbit of information. While looking at pricing for the genuine Ford 2 piece driveshaft I stumbled upon an article from the The Ranger Station entitled "1-Piece Driveshafts and Why You Want One".
An interesting read... this was for 1983-1997 Extended Cab Ford Rangers. Seems this 2 piece driveshaft issue has been around for a while.

The article outlines how to make the switch from 2 piece to single using a driveshaft from a later model Ranger.

- T

Interesting read. Sounds like Ford goes back and forth between one piece and two piece driveshaft. The vibration problem has effected tacoma's for a long time which also has a two piece driveshaft. I was reading a tacoma forum and a lot of people go to a one piece drive shaft and some lucky people are able to stop the vibration by adjusting the different angles of the driveshaft just right after a lot of trial and error

 

[NotBudule]

I have owned and delt with other 2 piece shafts before and never had this issue, all the others had solid or minimal flex on the carrier , mine feels like a SpongeBob toy is holding it in, moves all over the place, if it can't be mounted more solid for whatever reason , then a one piece is about all that could be done methinks ?...

 

[NotBudule]

@Shawn at Tom Wood's

you have a pretty good look at it , does it look like I could drive/wedge something around it? A small rubber vacuum hose perhaps ? Hate to fill it with goop that I can't get out ...

 

[Fitzmotor]

I tried to explain to the local driveshaft shop guy about how the factory Ranger shaft is not timed, I asked if he knew why, or are there other shafts like that? he no, and did not think I was correct, it would vibrate he said, I agreed, if he wasn't an hour away I would show him.

The Ranger is the first and only driveshaft I have seen that is made that way, I have done many drive lines and this goes against conventional shaft building with timed joints.

I see we have a driveshaft guy in on this, your thoughts on the Ranger shaft being made this way?

I'm surprised that "torque arm" has not come up more often in this conversation, they have been used in many applications, like F150 Raptors to eliminate axle wrap up.
You can set the rear angle anywhere to help eliminate vibration, but unlike the F150 there is not much room for one under the Ranger, I've looked.

 

[Jason B]

Here's an idea:

Who of you with a shuddering drive shaft wants to be a brave pioneer and try pouring polyurethane into your carrier bearing bushing?

If this works out for people, since I am bringing the idea forward, I'll split the $3,000 bounty ($1,500) with whoever takes it to a successful and repeatable (10X) conclusion from here. And if it proves itself to be a good solution I'll link it on our website as an alternative to the shaft we offer, but maybe not discontinue the shaft as this seems like it would be, best case scenario, a very DIY thing that not everyone would want nor have the ability to undertake. Then again, this might make no difference or might even make things worse.

IMO, I think it will keep the shaft from oscillating so much, but the vibes will be more noticeable in the cab.

I am content to stay with the one piece driveshaft. I don't think the split unit can perform any better than what I am now running. Even if the fix gets rid of most of the shudder, it still will not be as acceptable as the single piece shaft solution.

What does one of these Ford Ranger Driveshafts sell for?

Just checked at fordpartscatalog.com, it sells for $416.25.
FordParts.com had it listed for $512.31

Maybe Ford did use the least expensive option!

Another interesting tidbit of information. While looking at pricing for the genuine Ford 2 piece driveshaft I stumbled upon an article from the The Ranger Station entitled "1-Piece Driveshafts and Why You Want One".
An interesting read... this was for 1983-1997 Extended Cab Ford Rangers. Seems this 2 piece driveshaft issue has been around for a while.

The article outlines how to make the switch from 2 piece to single using a driveshaft from a later model Ranger.

- T

IMO, a 2-piece shaft, with more parts and machining would be more costly than a 1 piece.

I tried to explain to the local driveshaft shop guy about how the factory Ranger shaft is not timed, I asked if he knew why, or are there other shafts like that? he no, and did not think I was correct, it would vibrate he said, I agreed, if he wasn't an hour away I would show him.

The Ranger is the first and only driveshaft I have seen that is made that way, I have done many drive lines and this goes against conventional shaft building with timed joints.

I see we have a driveshaft guy in on this, your thoughts on the Ranger shaft being made this way?

I'm surprised that "torque arm" has not come up more often in this conversation, they have been used in many applications, like F150 Raptors to eliminate axle wrap up.
You can set the rear angle anywhere to help eliminate vibration, but unlike the F150 there is not much room for one under the Ranger, I've looked.

Someone else posted in this thread that an out of phase shaft is not uncommon and has been used on other vehicles.

 

[NotBudule]

IMO, I think it will keep the shaft from oscillating so much, but the vibes will be more noticeable in the cab.

I'm hoping that the oscillation IS the vibration being felt , and by stopping so much wobble it will cut down on feeling it , only one way to find out though...

 

[VegasRanger]

FWIW, I have 14,000 miles on my single piece with a lot of off road trips. Also, keep in mind my single piece is not built as tough as the one TW's provides. Not one issue. I keep my stock shaft in case I go in for warranty work. The difference between the two shafts in my case was major. Way smoother riding, and no more vibrations at take off.

Phil I respect you, you have a lot of knowledge, but just because you were a Ford Engineer doesn't make you the end all be all on this subject. My dad and uncle with combined 80 years as mechanics, am sure they have a few words for you and other Ford Engineers lol... Not to mention our fleet mechanics which maintain hundreds of Ford Explorers for our department, with new ones breaking down with major problems under 10,000 miles on them. My point being is that just because an engineer designed something, doesn’t mean it’s always right or works like it’s supposed to.

Although if you worked on the Crown Vics I salute you. That was a beast of a machine.

 

[Muddy Fenders]

*boom

And with that, Phil walks away from R5G never to be seen again.

Listen, I like Phil a lot even if his Ranger experience is from previous generations. If some of you don't like his advice, don't solicit it. The digs and jabs are unwarranted. Walk away and do your thing quietly.
He doesn't have to be here for anyone but himself, but people seem to think he's their bitch for answers.

 

[Friday yet?]

why are we always two or three inches short? ?

Sounds like my wife.

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