Driveshaft Harmonic Dampener Has Come Off?!?!

[TheRob]

For the past few weeks, I've had a grinding noise that sounded like the brakes being stuck on. It was intermittent and went away pretty much when I hit the brakes. Thinking it was brakes, I had a shop look at them (I don't know about drum brakes yet, unfortunately). Everything was cool. So, today I went under to see if the driveshaft was having some problem and lo and behold, a big ass metal cylinder is hanging on the driveshaft. It has some holes partially drilled through it and rubber on the inside, and it's located almost directly behind the transmission. I'm assuming this is a harmonic dampener for the driveshaft. Is there a way to reattach this piece, or is the driveshaft just done? If it's done for, can someone give me a short lesson on how to change a driveshaft? I don't have MUCH knowledge about RWD vehicles, so this will be a new operation for me.

Thanks,
-Rob

 

[Explorin94]

There is no way to reattach that piece. Ford still sells the part you need. I think it is right around 40 bucks and that is the whole slip yoke piece. You could go get a used one but you may be back in the same boat a couple of months down the road.

 

[TheRob]

...

Is the "slip yoke" that first part that comes out of the back of the transmission and attaches to the driveshaft? If so, it looked like its connected with some C-clips holding in some type of pin. Is this correct? Can you give some advice on replacing the slip yoke, please?

Thanks,
-Rob

 

[scotts90ranger]

that would be the U joint, do a youtube search for U joint replacement or something to that effect, you can do it with a couple big sockets and a big C clamp or vise

 

[TheRob]

...

Wow, I found a great video on youtube with all the details on there from expertvillage. Doesn't look like too hard a job! My only question is whether or not I need to drain the tranny fluid before removing the driveshaft U-joint from the back end of the tranny. I don't think so, but I figured it might save me a mess, hahaha.

Thanks!

-Rob

 

[4b316]

Just take it off and remove the damper.Then test drive it to make sure it doesn't shake the truck.We usaully just take them off the race truck,don't want to spin that weight,won't be out anything to try it.

 

[TheRob]

...

Well, I've apparently been driving it on the street and highway for a couple weeks without it being attached, and there hasn't been a noticeable increase in vibration. Is it really just a comfort thing? I'd assume that drive line vibration would cause earlier mechanical failure in the tranny or rear diff. Any information on that available? If it's possible to just remove the dampener and not cause any mechanical problems, I'd much rather do that.

Thanks,
-Rob

 

[scotts90ranger]

when you remove the driveshaft from the transmission you will loose a little bit of fluid, not a lot, I would get a quart of mercon ATF and top it off after you are done.

you will need a 12mm 12point wrench to get the driveshaft off of the rear axle so you can get it off

 

[4b316]

What it does,as you go down the road at a set speed,a vehicle will set up a harmonic vibration,the damper just deadens it.

 

[HM12460]

that damper is there to absorb driveline harmonic's primarily from the transmission. mine came loose too, about a month ago. i just removed it from the driveshaft and forgot about it. my local ford dealer told me at the time that the part was nla.