Driveshaft Fitment

[Jspafford]

Did any Regular Cab rangers ever come with an aluminum driveshaft?

The 1999 Ranger I have is a reg cab 4x4, and it has the steel driveshaft. I keep having to lube the splines about once every 3 months.

I was hoping to swap in an aluminum job to cut back on that.

Are there any out there?

 

[4x4junkie]

Are you liberally using a Moly CV joint grease on it?

AFAIK, the only regular cab Rangers to come with AL shafts were 2WD. (I don't see how the material the driveshaft is made of would change how often the splines need to be lubed either).

 

[Jspafford]

I used moly grease on them, it was very expensive. When I pull it apart there is always grease left in there, but for some reason it doesn't seem to work anymore until I clean it and put in new grease.

I know the 2WD's had them, but they will be longer without the transfer case.

I don't know why the aluminum helps, but my 2001 I took in for the same issue, and Ford put on a new aluminum driveshaft and the problem went away.

 

[4x4junkie]

Strange... I've used plain old Moly CV joint grease you buy at Autozone, etc (I guess it was like $5-6 a tube? I don't recall it being super-expensive, Sta-Lube brand IIRC) and it's always been fine for years.

Is the blue plastic coating on the splines worn through to the metal maybe?

 

[Jspafford]

No, the blue stuff is still on the splines.

It seems to get worse when things are colder. It really doesn't bother me too much other than being annoying, but the truck is actually for my fiancee' and when she feels/hears it she thinks it is falling apart.

 

[dangeranger01]

Do you have the dust cover over the splines?

 

[Jspafford]

Do you have the dust cover over the splines?

Yep, Fill it with grease the best I can, but it usually all squishes out when it all goes back together.

 

[AllanD]

Ford has a special super goopy grease specifically for the splined slip joints to quiet them down.

SFAIK the 4x4 standard cabs never came with an aluminum shaft

The 2wd trucks did and the 4x4 supercabs did

FWIW the aluminum shafts have their own issues.

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