WhiteLX
New Member
- Joined
- Sep 17, 2007
- Messages
- 44
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
- Age
- 46
- Location
- So Cal
- Vehicle Year
- 1989
- Make / Model
- Ford
- Engine Size
- 2.9L
- Transmission
- Automatic
I have had a little bit of vibration since I bought the truck a couple years ago, but after lowering it recently I noticed it had gotten a little worse. Well, today the flange that attached the rear U-joint to the pinion flange broke at 65mph on the freeway. Yesterday I noticed a metallic sound coming from the rear of the truck under hard acceleration when turning right. Guess I should have gotten under there a little sooner.
I am not sure if I had a failure of the U-joint (caps or needle bearings?) or if it was because of the driveline geometry. I lowered the front of the truck with 3" beams and the rear with 4" leafs, but I had to raise it back up with 2" shackles. I am not running a spacer under the center support bearing.
I took some measurements today. The center of the pinion flange is 13" from the ground. The center of the U-joint flange at the center support bearing is 12.5". The Center of the transmission output shaft is at 13.5". I also measured the angle of the pinion flange with relation to the ground. I got a reading of 83 degrees, so I imagine that means it is 6 degrees up since the pinion is pointing up.
Should the pinion be pointing down a couple degrees? Do I need to move the center support bearing up 1/2" or 1"? Where would I get such a spacer to move the center support bearing up?
I also want to take this time to replace the center support bearing. Is there a how-to anywhere on the internet? Would a driveshaft shop be able to replace it?
I obviously need a new flange for the rear U-joint. Is this a 7.5" Ranger specific piece, or can I get it from any 7.5" equipped Ford car or truck? Does the driveshaft still appear to be useable?
I am not sure if I had a failure of the U-joint (caps or needle bearings?) or if it was because of the driveline geometry. I lowered the front of the truck with 3" beams and the rear with 4" leafs, but I had to raise it back up with 2" shackles. I am not running a spacer under the center support bearing.
I took some measurements today. The center of the pinion flange is 13" from the ground. The center of the U-joint flange at the center support bearing is 12.5". The Center of the transmission output shaft is at 13.5". I also measured the angle of the pinion flange with relation to the ground. I got a reading of 83 degrees, so I imagine that means it is 6 degrees up since the pinion is pointing up.
Should the pinion be pointing down a couple degrees? Do I need to move the center support bearing up 1/2" or 1"? Where would I get such a spacer to move the center support bearing up?
I also want to take this time to replace the center support bearing. Is there a how-to anywhere on the internet? Would a driveshaft shop be able to replace it?
I obviously need a new flange for the rear U-joint. Is this a 7.5" Ranger specific piece, or can I get it from any 7.5" equipped Ford car or truck? Does the driveshaft still appear to be useable?