Front Drive Shaft
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Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Edmonton, Alberta
Front Drive Shaft
The rubber boot at the transfer case end of the front drive shaft is destroyed. What is the best way to take the drive shaft out. It dosen't look like there is enough room to pull it out by unbolting it at the front, then sliding it out of the transfer case. I don't think I want to get into pulling the transfer case.
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Front Drive Shaft
There is not enough room to remove the shaft without either lowering the front differential or removing the universal joint. I had the same boot issue and had to wait until I rebuilt the front diff to get that shaft out. Lowering the differential is not as easy as it sounds. The rubber isolation mounts (4) have threadlocker on the bolt ends and the "head" of the bolt is molded into the rubber mount - no access. If you apply to much pressure trying the break the nut loose, you risk coring out the rubber mount - and they are expensive to replace ($45 each, dealer item only).
An alternative might be to find an auto parts store that stocks those split boot replacements and see if they will let you rummage through their stock to find one that would work. I used one of these years ago on a Taurus CVO joint with success. It held up for several years without problems, so one should work easily on a minimally moving driveshaft.
An alternative might be to find an auto parts store that stocks those split boot replacements and see if they will let you rummage through their stock to find one that would work. I used one of these years ago on a Taurus CVO joint with success. It held up for several years without problems, so one should work easily on a minimally moving driveshaft.
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From: PNW
Front Drive Shaft
FYI, you can remove the front axle by leaving those rubber mount bolts and nuts alone. It still requires that you remove 4 nuts/bolts and access is tough, but it can be done with a good selection of sockets (deep and standard), u-joints and extensions. And, the bolts aren't torqued nearly as tight as the rubber mounts. Still, it took about two hours to remove the front diff so it sounds like removing the u-joint is the way to go.
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Edmonton, Alberta
Front Drive Shaft
Looking a little closer, if the starter is removed there might be enough room by removing the 4 bolts at the front diff then sliding the drive shaft up into the engine compartment. If there is only a few inches of spline in the transfer case this might work. Anyone try this?
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Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Southern California
The factory service manual I have says you have to remove the starter, remove the four bolts attaching the front drive shaft to the differential. Then you have to remove the two bolts between the transmission and the mount and jack the transmission up about 2 inches. Then you can remove the drive shaft. Click on my alias and click on "sending email to ----" to send me an email. Then I'll have your email address and I'll send you a PDF file containing the instructions.
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copper,
The boot used on the Taurus was for a Taurus CV joint. I was referring to the fact that a split boot can work well. I don't have a specific application number for the driveshaft. If you could find a store that stocks split boots perhaps they would let you rummage through the stock to find a boot that might work. All you need are the diameters of the two ends. I had my shaft out, so I ordered a boot from the local Ford dealer and the price was not all that outrageous - something around $12.00 as I recall but it did not include the band clamp. Here's a link to a site that might be able to help you.
http://www.bootkit.com/bootkit/
The boot used on the Taurus was for a Taurus CV joint. I was referring to the fact that a split boot can work well. I don't have a specific application number for the driveshaft. If you could find a store that stocks split boots perhaps they would let you rummage through the stock to find a boot that might work. All you need are the diameters of the two ends. I had my shaft out, so I ordered a boot from the local Ford dealer and the price was not all that outrageous - something around $12.00 as I recall but it did not include the band clamp. Here's a link to a site that might be able to help you.
http://www.bootkit.com/bootkit/
Last edited by aerocolorado; Jul 14, 2004 at 09:53 AM.
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my alldata say s that you can remove front driveshaft by unbolting and slide forward i know from owm experience that i can be don but you need to remove 2 other screws on a mount just forward of driveshaft and it will go
wayne
wayne
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From: Southern California
Hi Aerocolorado:
How did you get the boot for $12 at the dealer? I finally broke down and went to the local dealer, and they wanted $27 plus tax for that stupid boot. I asked a friend of mine, who has a repair shop, to order one for me from the same dealer, and he got it for $16 with no sales tax. Talk about being cheap, he he.
How did you get the boot for $12 at the dealer? I finally broke down and went to the local dealer, and they wanted $27 plus tax for that stupid boot. I asked a friend of mine, who has a repair shop, to order one for me from the same dealer, and he got it for $16 with no sales tax. Talk about being cheap, he he.
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I have a hunch I may get better pricing since I am a frequent customer. Early on, I was paying what I thought were outrageous prices but within the last two years the prices are comparable to what I could find on internet sites. Doesn't hurt to ask for better prices or if they can match a competitors price - often they will.
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