2WD One-Piece Drive Shaft Swap?

[forzda]

No rubbing yet , but then again I am running stock height . I will check it tomorrow , havent heard anything

 

[forzda]

No rubbing yet , but then again I am running stock height . I will check it tomorrow , havent heard anything

I just checked this and the shaft is rubbing , so I am going to cut out the floor section from the 99 to give the 96 the extra clearance that it need . Thanks for the advice .

 

[rrbrian222]

If you're running stock height, swapping the floor boards sounds like a lot of work. I run a stock suspension and am presently experimenting with "massaging" the floor board from underneath with my hammer. I'll see if I need to do more after I get some quality miles on it.

That said, the 98+ floorboard would be handy to have laying around for future suspension/height modifications.

 

[ZMan]

I cut mine out way more than i needed to to be honest, but it ileviates any future problems. With 2 inches of drop i never had a problem, but with 4 it rubs lol.

 

[forzda]

If you're running stock height, swapping the floor boards sounds like a lot of work. I run a stock suspension and am presently experimenting with "massaging" the floor board from underneath with my hammer. I'll see if I need to do more after I get some quality miles on it.

That said, the 98+ floorboard would be handy to have laying around for future suspension/height modifications.

It really isnt that much work , nothing a jig saw and metal blade cant take off , as for installing it , that is what panel adhesive and sheet metal screws are for.
I maybe be lowering the truck in the future so I might as well do it now when it is easier to get at the parts , besides the part truck is going this week

 

[volrath]

i swapped aluminum shafts onto both of my 2wd ext cab rangers. they both fit fine.

on my 90 5 speed i did have to use a different front u-joint to adapt the old yoke to the new shaft. on that truck i lowered the tranny mound about 1/2 inch and that cleared all clearence issues. until i lowered it 5/7. i also istalled a raised tranny x member though.

on my 94 auto, the new drive shaft fit right in nicely. this truck has a one inch body lift though. so no cab issues were had. and an add-a-leave helps to. but on this truck the rock gaurd on the side of the gas tanks mounting brackets still managed to scare my drive shaft. but i beat the bejesus out of this truck. and haul a lot of stuff with it.

ether way. i loved this mod on both trucks. what a difference it made.

 

[Darklighter]

That is exactly what I did with my truck. Cut the floorboard out that has that dip and then welded a curved metal piece in place to prevent the driveshaft from scrapping the underside of the cab.

 

[ChairMachineGun]

I know this thread is old but, I can not find a 98-Up Ranger 2WD Super Cab MT (128"WB) Drive Shaft anywhere. I want to swap it into my 97. Anyone know where I can score one? I will pay up to $125 shipped for one if you have it. Its the 64" Weld to Weld shaft. Text me 734-391-5040

 

[rrbrian222]

The manual transmission shaft is much harder to find. When I did mine, I could only find the shorter auto shafts. I even ending up buying one on ebay, only to find out out the guy who sold it listed it in correctly. PITA.

To answer your question, try this website. You should be able to hunt one down in your area, or maybe within a short roadtrip's distance.

http://www.car-part.com

 

[tworanger]

I just read through most of these post and haven't found anything concerning my truck yet so I'll try. I have been chasing a vibration for years finally had the driveshaft checked and it had a bend in it and so it was fixed and rebalanced at a reputable shop. I also had the center baering replaced after noticing that i could pretty easily shake the driveshaft by hand(I compared it to a few other rangers and theirs were all held tight. After fixing the driveshaft and bearing the vibration is 85% gone but still has some of the same characteristics(speed, gear, acceleration) of when it makes the noise. Do you think the shop did a lousy job balancing the shaft and the new bearing is just doing a better just at dampening the vibration? And does anyone have any expereince with a one piece in a 91 2wd ext. cab 2.3(the truck is all stock)? Are these floorboards different than the 93-and up?

 

[f3joel]

I just put a 1 piece driveshaft in my 91 2wd ext cab 4.0 last night.
So much smoother... Very happy with the outcome.
No clearance issues, I am at stock height.
I drilled the rivet caps off then beat them out.
Wasn't too bad.
New shaft slid right in and bolted up like it was made for it.



UPDATE: I have heard the driveshaft rub 2 or 3 times.
I have a very steep driveway.
When backing out and the rear tires hit the road.
Seems like if I angle out I don't hear it.
Never heard it any other time.