2004 F250 4x4
Terrible clicking & grinding/grouling noise when in 4wd during our last storm.
Determined front driveshaft U joints are junk. 150k miles no big deal right?
WRONG? Non serviceable joints!!!
Shaft needs to be changed or cut off factory one and weld on new serviceable joints!! WTF~!!!!
Ford wants $450 for the front shaft....gulp ugh~~~~~
I bet I have maybe 100 miles total using the truck in 4wd over the course of 7 years and 150k miles! I guess it is true it is better use it once and a while even if you don't need it.

 

Something doesn't sound right. I just replaced all the U-joints and the bearing in the double carden joint on my Front drive shaft a little over a month ago with no problems. Only way you would need a new end on the drive shaft is if the stud on the drive shaft end for the carden joint was bad. This is assuming the 2004's are similar to the 2001's.

 

I can't believe the ujoints aren't replaceable.
Usually its the front axles that go bad not the driveshaft..

 

This is from a 2004 workshop manual.... looks to me like the u-joints should be replaceable. Does this look like yours?

 

sounds to me like some shop just doesnt want to rebuilt teh u-joints...

get a second opinion, preferably from a driveline specialty shop..

 

That's exactly what my driveshaft looked like. All the joints were replaceable. Like I said, the only part that can go bad is that little "stud" on the end of the main driveshaft that fits into the bearing in the carden joint. If it wears out a new end has to be put on.

 

Perhaps they meant you can't service (grease) the u-joints?

 

It's the Carden joint in the double yoke end. It's kind of like a CV joint.

 

Its a 30 dollar bearing and seal on that end. Hard part is finding the dust seal that goes around that bearing. I had to order it online. No one local had it. My Ford dealer gave me the same run around. They would only sell me the entire joint.

 

That should still be fine. That setup has been used for years. My '75 Bronco has that setup on the front shaft.

I see all sorts of parts shown on Rock Auto for front driveshaft u-joints for our trucks.

JEV -- could you dig up any part numbers for JoeDirt68?

 

Napa part number PUJ 617 was the kit I used. Two different ones are listed so you have to check to see what kind you need.
The dust seal I found at quad4x4 online. Their p/n is QU40704. That was the only part I couldn't find locally. All other parts were easy to find at any of my local autoparts stores.
JEV

 

Some shops don't want to mess with replacing u-joints. Better profit margin for them by replacing the entire front drive shaft. The Cardan joint failed on my '02 F350. A new d/s from Ford was some ridiculous amount of $s. I had mine rebuilt. Any decent driveshaft shop can rebuild and/or replace the joints.

 

If you take it to a driveline shop (good recommendation) have it balanced as well, very little cost and a surprising number are out of balance.

BTW, if the driveline shop doesn't do balancing, run the other direction.

 

Thanks guys heading to NAPA.

 

i think they were trying to get more money by having a complete replacement put in. Easy enough to do yourself. Spray some pb blaster or something around all the joints before you start to take the old out.