One Piece Driveshaft

[TJC]

IIRC, ~68" Flange to Flange. This is ballpark. Measure!

Here the difference in spline between Ford Stock and TW Driveshaft slip joint.

Top is TW
Bottom Ford

Sponsored

 

[Jason B]

Why do we have to measure? There shouldn't be any significant difference in lengths, other than 2WD vs 4WD. And lift/level won't change the length either, otherwise everyone would have to replace the DS after lift/level. It's not like Ford will custom fit drive shafts to our trucks.

 

[TJC]

Ask Shawn. He is easily reached.

 

[Colo_Ranger]

IIRC, ~68" Flange to Flange. This is ballpark. Measure!

Here the difference in spline between Ford Stock and TW Driveshaft slip joint.

Top is TW
Bottom Ford

I measured 67.5”, so that’s close. Thanks!

 

[Rotortech]

Seems like a good average is 67.5. My exact measurement was 67 and 7/16.

There is so much spline engagement with the TW shaft that an error of 1/4 inch or so either way probably won't matter.

 

[Colo_Ranger]

I called and talked to them this morning. We decided to go with 67.75. I measured twice last night and 67.5 and 68. He said on a shaft that long (giggity), there would be plenty of slip in either direction. He also said I should have it by the weekend. Which would be nice. Sharing a car with my wife sucks.

 

[TJC]

I measured 67.5”, so that’s close. Thanks!

I got 67.25", and after installing I had 5/8" of blue showing. So you are in the ball park. I figured that I could have went to 68" without a problem.

 

[TJC]

I called and talked to them this morning. We decided to go with 67.75. I measured twice last night and 67.5 and 68. He said on a shaft that long (giggity), there would be plenty of slip in either direction. He also said I should have it by the weekend. Which would be nice. Sharing a car with my wife sucks.

You're right on the money!

 

[Shawn at Tom Wood's]

Why do we have to measure? There shouldn't be any significant difference in lengths, other than 2WD vs 4WD. And lift/level won't change the length either, otherwise everyone would have to replace the DS after lift/level. It's not like Ford will custom fit drive shafts to our trucks.

Because "should fit" and "does fit" are not always the same thing. I think we've all had the experience of going to the auto parts store and getting a part that is listed as the correct fit for our vehicle but it doesn't fit or doesn't fit well. Taking a couple minutes to scoot under your truck with a measuring tape will ensure that this does not happen. Also, as one may be able to extract from the rest of this thread, Ford isn't exactly trying to assist us in making aftermarket shafts. There isn't a spec sheet that we can get from Ford that tells us all the possible lengths based on whatever options and variables these trucks might have. So we have to compile that information ourselves as we go. I took a look at the 68 orders we have on file for these shafts and most orders seem to be 66.5-67.5, right in that range. However, we've had a few that were shorter, closer to 64". What's different about these trucks? I don't know. But if they had gone with the standard length they would have been way too short. Or maybe those few people measured incorrectly and ended up with the wrong length. You are right that Ford doesn't custom fit the shafts to your trucks. I think what that really means is that they just slap the same length shaft in every truck and say "that's good enough", we're trying to be a little more precise.

As time goes on and we have a bigger data pool to evaluate we may determine that the lengths are standard enough that we are comfortable enough to offer an "average length" option.

We actually require measurements on almost all the shafts we build, even for applications for which we've built thousands of shafts before. More on that here https://4xshaft.com/blogs/faq/why-do-i-need-to-measure?_pos=1&_sid=e4536e7ce&_ss=r

 

[Jason B]

Because "should fit" and "does fit" are not always the same thing. I think we've all had the experience of going to the auto parts store and getting a part that is listed as the correct fit for our vehicle but it doesn't fit or doesn't fit well. Taking a couple minutes to scoot under your truck with a measuring tape will ensure that this does not happen. Also, as one may be able to extract from the rest of this thread, Ford isn't exactly trying to assist us in making aftermarket shafts. There isn't a spec sheet that we can get from Ford that tells us all the possible lengths based on whatever options and variables these trucks might have. So we have to compile that information ourselves as we go. I took a look at the 68 orders we have on file for these shafts and most orders seem to be 66.5-67.5, right in that range. However, we've had a few that were shorter, closer to 64". What's different about these trucks? I don't know. But if they had gone with the standard length they would have been way too short. Or maybe those few people measured incorrectly and ended up with the wrong length. You are right that Ford doesn't custom fit the shafts to your trucks. I think what that really means is that they just slap the same length shaft in every truck and say "that's good enough", we're trying to be a little more precise.

As time goes on and we have a bigger data pool to evaluate we may determine that the lengths are standard enough that we are comfortable enough to offer an "average length" option.

We actually require measurements on almost all the shafts we build, even for applications for which we've built thousands of shafts before. More on that here https://4xshaft.com/blogs/faq/why-do-i-need-to-measure?_pos=1&_sid=e4536e7ce&_ss=r

As always, your knowledge and advice on these is superb!
Thanks for the clarification.

 

[Superspirit]

Long term review. I've had the TW driveshaft for 2500 mi now. Took a 1600 mi trip the rest around town and up to the mountains and back. The shifting has improved, I attribute that to the driveshaft not binding up like the original did at the weak center support. All of the take off and stopping shudder is gone. The truck is as smooth as a new truck should be. I highly recommend this cure for fords garbage shaft. At this point I've lost all respect for the ford engineer who's feelings got hurt and he ran from this conversation.

 

[TJC]

Long term review. I've had the TW driveshaft for 2500 mi now. Took a 1600 mi trip the rest around town and up to the mountains and back. The shifting has improved, I attribute that to the driveshaft not binding up like the original did at the weak center support. All of the take off and stopping shudder is gone. The truck is as smooth as a new truck should be. I highly recommend this cure for fords garbage shaft. At this point I've lost all respect for the ford engineer who's feelings got hurt and he ran from this conversation.

The one piece driveshaft makes a BIG MAJOR difference in the truck. "The truck is as smooth as a new truck should be." AMEN Brother!

 

[Whiplash]

I would like to add my 2cents to the conversation......

My 2021 was experiencing carrier bearing failure at 8,400 miles....the whistle/ squeal.....not wanting to wait for the dealer to look at it and most likely deny warranty replacement becuase of all the lift and suspension mods I have done...., I ordered and installed the Woods one peice....also did the Pinion angle shims to get my flange angles very close to parallel with each other ( I'm OCD ) .....I made the Pinion flange angle 0.4° lower to leave a little room for axle wrap....

Everything TJC has been telling us is true.....One of the best, worth every cent mod that can be done to our Rangers....?....
.

 

[Colo_Ranger]

UPS tracking shows tomorrow delivery.

 

[RedDakooter05]

Anyone willing to pull off their support bearing/bracket and get measurements?

$700 a smidge above my paygrade, but Wouldn't mind looking into aftermarket bearings...

Sponsored