rear driveshaft

[dakotavsranger]

hi ther....i have a 1992 2.9L ranger regular cab short box standard.....

i took the rear shaft off to change u-joints.....now this shaft is a spicer high velocity shaft i'm told wtf is that.....i have never seen such a thing,this shaft has 2 u-joints at the end of the transfer case,and 1 at the diff....so my joints were still good my problem is the 2 by the transfer case side,thers some sorta cv joint style mechanisme now its completly chewed up....my question is can i put just a regular str8 shaft on this truck or find an original cos the shop wants 500$ to rebuild the old one and the dealer say these trucks are obsolete........tks

 

[4x4junkie]

That's called a "double-cardan" constant velocity shaft with the 2-u-joint cluster at the t-case end.

If the truck is stock height, you should be able to use a normal single-cardan shaft, although you may get a slight vibration.
I would try to find another shaft like yours at a wrecking yard, it would most certainly be much cheaper than $500. Do put some new u-joints in it and grease up the centering ball before you put in in yours though.

'91-'97 Ranger 4WD std. shortbeds will have the same shaft as yours.