anybody else run into this u joint issue

[jrpdash9]

i got a 2002 with a aluminum drive shaft. the u joints are for a 93-99 ranger non aluminum shaft. any body else run into this problem

 

[Mac]

What is the problem? I thought they were the same joint,
Dave

 

[Ak907Girl]

All I know about the u joints on my 93 is that the last owner never paid attention to them, and when I went to change them the pins in the joints were ground to a fine powder!!! U joints are a PAIN IN MY @$$!! lol only because I can barely lift the shaft by myself. (HA dirty joke......)

What's the actual issue here?

 

[fyre82]

The previous owner probably stuffed them in without pregreasing them and never put anything into them since.

If those joints sat on a shelf for any amount of time the grease would not be good. I always push that factory stuff out before installing new joints and then give a pump or two after its all buttoned up.

Squirt a bit in every time you service, that's why it's called a lube, oil and filter service.

Push those out and replace with a good quality serviceable joint.

Rich

 

[jrpdash9]

What is the problem? I thought they were the same joint,
Dave

no there are like 3 or 4 different u joints and one thats only for the aluminum drive shaft. this dang truck has the aluminum shaft but the u joints are for a 93-98. and its a 2002

 

[2002RangerXLT]

i got a 2002 with a aluminum drive shaft. the u joints are for a 93-99 ranger non aluminum shaft. any body else run into this problem

I've got a 2002 with an aluminum drive shaft as well and the shop is telling me that the u-joints the local Ford parts dept. sold them don't fit.

The shaft eng # is 1L54-4602-JC. Is that the same part # for yours? If so, are you saying they actually need U-joints for a 93-99 Ranger?

 

[2002RangerXLT]

I've got a 2002 with an aluminum drive shaft as well and the shop is telling me that the u-joints the local Ford parts dept. sold them don't fit.

The shaft eng # is 1L54-4602-JC. Is that the same part # for yours? If so, are you saying they actually need U-joints for a 93-99 Ranger?

Ok, just in case anyone else runs into this problem, here is what I've found out.

If you do a search for a 4.0L 2002 Ranger u-joint, the Ford dealership is going to sell you one that might not fit. In addition, if you do a search at Summit or some other place for those u-joints, they're going to send you a 1330-series Spicer...that isn't going to fit either.

The u-joints on a 4" aluminum driveshaft from a 4.0L 4x4 Supercab 2002 Ranger are Spicer 1310 series, with a 3.218 width and a 1.062 cap diameter, at both the transfer case and the differential.

Why did Ford do this? A search for the engineering # on my driveshaft even shows that driveshaft has 'no serviceable parts, must order entire 4602 assembly.'

Hopefully the next person that runs into this problem can benefit from the fun I've been through.

 

[cdawall]

Will have to check the part numbers on mine it has a brand new set of spicer's on it. Always thought they were just a set of 1330 joints.

 

[PARANGER2002]

I also ran into this and 2002RangerXLT is exactly correct. And in addition to 1310 spicer, the MOOG #280 also fits. What my question is why dont any of these parts dealers have a clue about this.

 

[sgtsandman]

After getting the incorrect u-joints twice for my 1998, 2.5L, RWD, manual transmission Ranger, I had to bring in the old u-joint to match them up. It seems there is a data base problem. I can't remember which one I ended up with but that was the only way I was able to get the right u-joint.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I also ran into this and 2002RangerXLT is exactly correct. And in addition to 1310 spicer, the MOOG #280 also fits. What my question is why dont any of these parts dealers have a clue about this.

Because different truck configurations use different crosses. It isn't so cut and dry that a 2002 Ranger uses XXXX cross.

If you want to measure and see what yours actually uses:

https://www.therangerstation.com/ho...r-case-driveshaft/all-about-universal-joints/