What did you do to your Ranger today? (Part Deux!)

[Curious Hound]

BTW, Am I crazy or are my tie rods bent forward?

It's an optical illusion.

 

[Jazzer]

Can’t tell from the pic, but there’s an OCD signup sheet somewhere on the site, IIRC.

 

[SenorNoob]

Good to know. I've been chasing miscellaneous vibrations lately and wasn't sure.

I know one vibration is the parking brake that works when it wants to because the mini drums are bent. Potentially another is the front driveshaft as very loose in the transfer case. That shouldn't be affecting anything in 2wd with the hubs disengaged.

 

[Rick W]

Good to know. I've been chasing miscellaneous vibrations lately and wasn't sure.

I know one vibration is the parking brake that works when it wants to because the mini drums are bent. Potentially another is the front driveshaft as very loose in the transfer case. That shouldn't be affecting anything in 2wd with the hubs disengaged.

Unlocking the hubs unlocks the wheels from the front wheel axles. The front driveshaft and front axles still turn, as well as the transfer case and the front pumpkin.

If the driveshaft is loose in that pumpkin, that could be your vibration. Yes/no?

 

[Rick W]

Help question number two: midshaft bearing on a two piece driveshaft.

1997 4.0, five speed, 2wd, long cab, short bed

I just received the correct midshaft bearing. The old one had completely disintegrated where pretty much all that was left was the horseshoe outer housing, and a little bit of rubber around the bearing itself. It wobbled and rattled itself to death.

The new bearing has a large loose washer/disk on one side. The old one did not have any disc, or it was mangled and thrown off.

When I install the new bearing, does the disc go on the front side or on the rear side?

C’mon guys, no help on this one?

 

[SenorNoob]

I’m unlocking the hubs unlock the wheels from the front wheel axles. The front driveshaft in front axle still turn, as well as the transfer case and the front pumpkin. If the driveshaft is loose in that pumpkin, that could be your vibration. Yes/no?

Driveshaft is loose at the slip yoke to the transfer case, but with transfer case in 2wd and front hubs unlocked it should be sitting still. Only thing to turn it would be dragging bearings in the hubs or transfer case.

 

[Curious Hound]

C’mon guys, no help on this one?

I could flip a coin for you.

 

[Rick W]

I could flip a coin for you.

Actually, I’m not sure I can flip a coin with the way my arm is right now.

But I reached out to the guy who sold me the part, and he said that stamped metal piece is a dust shield, and it is supposed to be facing towards the back of the truck.

Maybe you gurus should write that down somewhere.

 

[Rick W]

Monsoon season in Atlanta today, so I was doing projects in the house and in the shop. A priority is getting that front driveshaft back into my 97 Road Ranger.

Guess which is the new one?

I didn’t have a deep enough socket or the right diameter pipe to seat the bearing, so I made a custom bearing seating tool woody thingum.

No, I didn’t get wild and crazy with the money. This is a piece of an American flag I got from the dollar store years ago. It was in the “short dowels” section in the shed of miracles.

I think the whole thing would’ve taken me about 15 minutes, but I goofed when I put the nut on to hold the yoke on the driveshaft. I forgot to put the washer in, and then I bottomed out the nut so I couldn’t grab it back with the socket. My butthole got tight for a minute, but then I realized I could pull the yoke off with the harmonic balancer puller and it would slide right over the nut. Disaster averted.

Ready to go, but it’s raining like crazy, and I don’t want to be wet and upside down with my bad arm, beating my head on the bottom side of that thing. Rain is supposed to stop early in the morning, so I’ll throw a blanket under there and hopefully do it before it starts raining around noon again tomorrow.

I also went round Robin on windshield wipers. I put a new pair on the Missing Linc, and on the 88 town car. Both Rangers and both of the “Little“ Lincolns take the same wiper. I think the F250 is the same as well. the 78 takes like a three footer or something there. Rock auto has them for about three dollars from time to time, and I’ll buy 8 or 10 of them to save shipping. I’m down to three in the box.

EDIT: YOKE, not yolk…

like I invented Siri dictation spelling…

 

[Curious Hound]

Monsoon season in Atlanta today, so I was doing projects in the house and in the shop. A priority is getting that front driveshaft back into my 97 Road Ranger.

View attachment 127839

Guess which is the new one?

View attachment 127838

I didn’t have a deep enough socket or the right diameter pipe to seat the bearing, so I made a custom bearing seating tool woody thingum.

View attachment 127840

No, I didn’t get wild and crazy with the money. This is a piece of an American flag I got from the dollar store years ago. It was in the “short dowels” section in the shed of miracles.

I think the whole thing would’ve taken me about 15 minutes, but I goofed when I put the nut on to hold the yolk on the driveshaft. I forgot to put the washer in, and then I bottomed out the nut so I couldn’t grab it back with the socket. My butthole got tight for a minute, but then I realized I could pull the yolk off with the harmonic balancer puller and it would slide right over the nut. Disaster averted.

View attachment 127841

Ready to go, but it’s raining like crazy, and I don’t want to be wet and upside down with my bad arm, beating my head on the bottom side of that thing. Rain is supposed to stop early in the morning, so I’ll throw a blanket under there and hopefully do it before it starts raining around noon again tomorrow.

I also went round Robin on windshield wipers. I put a new pair on the Missing Linc, and on the 88 town car. Both Rangers and both of the “Little“ Lincolns take the same wiper. I think the F250 is the same as well. the 78 takes like a three footer or something there. Rock auto has them for about three dollars from time to time, and I’ll buy 8 or 10 of them to save shipping. I’m down to three in the box.

YOLK

YOKE

 

[scotts90ranger]

Did an oil change on the '97 this morning... in the near future I need to do some maintenance on that thing, it's seeping oil out of everywhere (no oil spots where I park so nothing fast, don't even need to add any between 3300 mile changes), don't know what it's excuse is it only has 230k on it and is only 28 years old...

 

[Rick W]

YOLK
View attachment 127843

YOKE
View attachment 127842

Damn, you guys must think I’m some kind of yokel….

 

[JoshT]

Did an oil change on the '97 this morning... in the near future I need to do some maintenance on that thing, it's seeping oil out of everywhere (no oil spots where I park so nothing fast, don't even need to add any between 3300 mile changes), don't know what it's excuse is it only has 230k on it and is only 28 years old...

Don;t feel bad, the 5.0 in my 99 has the same issue. It's got less than a year and 5k miles on it. Based on leak location, I suspect that it is the oil pan gasket around the rear main bearing cap. Could be the rear main seal itself. but seems more like the pan gasket. As long as it doesn't get worse I'll fix it when I pull the transmission for replacement, which will probably be next summer(ish).

 

[JoshT]

Damn, you guys must think I’m some kind of yokel….

I'm not sure that "think" is the right word there...

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Night number two of being the oldest and smallest tow pig in front of the oldest and smallest camper.