Rear coupling on front driveshaft?

[spoolin01]

I started tearing things out to replace the leaking clutch slave cylinder in my 2003 Ranger FX4 4.0L - man what a lot of stuff to get out of the way, and bolts where only a kid with 4 ft long arms could reach!

Anyway, I'm following the Chilton manual but it's a little slim about some stuff. There's a joint between the electric-shift transfer case and the front driveshaft that isn't a typical U-joint. The shaft terminates inside a half-globe, but the connection is hidden by a boot. The half globe fits into a big socket on the transfer case output flange. Does that shaft end/globe require any servicing? I haven't tried taking it apart yet... it wasn't obvious how it would come apart, from looking at it. The fit between the globe and transfer case socket looks like it's intended to stay clean inside, and there's a small hole between there and the inside of the globe, so I'm wondering if there's any lubing to be done inside that globe, or anything else I should know about it?

 

[trail B2]

It sounds like a CV joint if it's not throwing grease out all over it or the boots not torn don't need to mess with it.When I take out the transfer case I take out the front drive line still bolted to it and it works good.

 

[AllanD]

Inside that "globe" is a Rezeppa type CV joint.

It's a "six ball" joint similar to those used as Axle shaft CV's on FWD cars
(and for that matter on the front of your Ranger)

but there's a difference, the ball tracks are angled which allows a small ammount of
axial travel (something the "Lobro" type joints used on the outers don't allow)

those "Rezeppa" joints are commonly used as inner axle CV's on European cars
(your find a pair of them on the back of every Mercedes)

And though people whine about them failing they are less stressed installed in a driveshaft than they typically are in an axle.


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