replacing ford ranger driveshaft

[JoelD]

Hi all
While replacing my ujoint I bent the yoke on my axle I hate self inflicted wounds

Used my shop press to remove the u joint bearing caps and applied to much pressure which bent the yoke even the hole for he bearing cap is no longer round

I'll never get it bent back correctly

I plan to get a used one

Any advice on instalation of replacement driveshaft?

Thanks
Joel

 

[Diamondpilot]

Around here we can get a custom built shaft fairly cheap at the HD axle alignment shop. Its been years but we lifted a 96 Toyota and had to have custom shafts made and it was like $250 front and rear.

I just wonder if you can get a shaft made or a new yoke welded on your old one and balanced cheaper than you can run all over trying to find a good used one for your truck.

Chris

 

[timswi]

Go to a bone yard. You should have no problem finding one of those drive shafts.

One thing I've found on the GM's anyway is that the plastic charge in the factory U-joints makes them very difficult to remove.

I heat them up until the plasic begins to ooze out and then take them out with a drive pin and a piece of 1" plate with a 1 1/4 hole in it...Never had difficulty or problems doing it this way. They walk right out.

Don't overheat them or they will explode...Don't ask me how I know.

 

[Travelover]

The parts may be too rusty now, but originally there was a paint mark on the driveshaft and the axle flange that should be aligned. If aligned wrong, you get a little more vibration. If vibration is too bad, remove bolts and re-index until it is better.

 

[JoelD]

The parts may be too rusty now, but originally there was a paint mark on the driveshaft and the axle flange that should be aligned. If aligned wrong, you get a little more vibration. If vibration is too bad, remove bolts and re-index until it is better.

Great advice, as I was all worried about that. Amazing how the answer can be right under your nose but you can't see it, after all there are just 4 bolts and that is it.

I found a place in NH that will fix and balance my drive shaft for a very reasonable fee. I am very relieved. I call the bone yard in Candia and they had none and could locate none in their network, they recommended the driveshaft guy in NH.

Joel

 

[Diamondpilot]

Great advice, as I was all worried about that. Amazing how the answer can be right under your nose but you can't see it, after all there are just 4 bolts and that is it.

I found a place in NH that will fix and balance my drive shaft for a very reasonable fee. I am very relieved. I call the bone yard in Candia and they had none and could locate none in their network, they recommended the driveshaft guy in NH.

Joel

Do not mess with a bone yard shaft. Many times they are bent/tweaked from the accident. You should also be putting in new joints when installing a used shaft that has been laying around in the mud at the parts yard. By the time you are done with all that you can have yours fixed for the same money or less or for just a few dollars more get a new one custom built. I have been down this road and learned the hard way its better to get new or repair what you have.

Chris

 

[timswi]

I've bought many junk yard drive shafts and have never had an issue with any of them, I used them for street rods etc. Just need to know the reason that the vehicle was there in bone yard in the first place, hard collisions are not a good choice.

 

[RobertN]

Chris is right on here. Take it to a driveline shop. They should be able to install a new yoke, and then balance the complete assembly. Or, they can build you a complete driveline to replace yours.

when I had my F250, I changed trannies. I had to lengthen the rear driveline and shorten the front. A local drivline shop did both, rebalanced ect. Worked great.

My wife used to have an IROC Camaro. It did not balance right with the plastic cap covers missing. Had to have that driveline rebalanced

Around here we can get a custom built shaft fairly cheap at the HD axle alignment shop. Its been years but we lifted a 96 Toyota and had to have custom shafts made and it was like $250 front and rear.

I just wonder if you can get a shaft made or a new yoke welded on your old one and balanced cheaper than you can run all over trying to find a good used one for your truck.

Chris

 

[JoelD]

I understand he'll weld on new "forks" (not sure of the term) and then balance the entire assembly. I am very pleased to have found him and he's fairly close to me.

I used too much pressure on my press when getting the u-joints out.

With 157K on the clock the truck owes me nothing and i"m happy to spend the 100 or so to have the shaft fixed, I'm still ahead of the game as compared to having the u-joints replaced by a mechanic, plus it was a learning experience for me.

Thanks again guys,
Joel

 

[arrabil]

I used too much pressure on my press when getting the u-joints out.

For future reference.... when the u-joint won't budge but you've got it under a good bit of pressure, hit the bottom of the yoke with a hammer. Usually this "pops" everything apart.