Yesterday, my driveshaft broke in half (right in the middle) as the light turned green and I pushed on the gas. Never seen that, must be a hidden weld there? So wondering if anyone has knowledge on WHICH COMPATIBLE DRIVESHAFTS, I can look for. Assuming the 4WD shafts are shorter, due to the transfer case, but anyone know if all the early year driveshafts are the same, or which years are compatible. Unfortunately, l live on and island, so not going to have and abundance of choices here>
Thanks for any knowledge on compatibility, for those who know.

 

Get a good measurement and search the salvage yards if that's your thing.. I've never run across this issue, there shouldn't have been a weld in the middle..

 

I can search compatibility of your driveshaft but i would need to know more info on the truck. Cab and box size and engine size otherwise the last 8 digits of the VIN would work.

-Dan F

 

Thanks Stubblefoot appreciate the quick reply. In the middle of a job, so not the best timing, as life goes.
The truck is and 04 FX4 F150 extended cab, 5.4 engine with a VIN of 1FTPX04594KC59659
I live on Maui, and it appears most have stopped selling used parts, so may have to reach out to Honolulu, to see if anyone there has a driveshaft, then try get it shipped over. I'll try upload a pic here, as never seen a driveshaft just break in half, when you are leaving a green light, so must have been rusting out, and was just ready to go

 

 

Thanks, Dan, gave credit to the wrong reply in a haste. Yes, finding that it might be a bit challenging to me, being here on Maui, to find and affordable solution. The one thing I don't do, is go to the deaership for the parts, almost all the local car dealerships (only 1 Ford) are owned by the same person, and of course, they would probably charge me a grand for a driveshaft, AND tell me it will be 2 weeks

 

The truck is and 04 FX4 F150 extended cab, 5.4 engine with a VIN of 1FTPX04594KC59659

 

Ok not a problem, so the driveshaft in your truck fits from 11/29/2004 to 8/8/2005. 145in wheel base only so it'd have to be a extended cab 6.5 foot box 4x4 with the 5.4. They are unfortunately not even available new from Ford so a dealer is out of the question anyway, Like someone above said you may have to have one made new. There is some shop called HPG Diesel but I'm not 100% sure they actually build driveshafts. There is a drivetrain place on O'ahu called Power Train Industries and another called Hawaii Spring Supply in Honolulu. I have no experience with anyone on the islands as we're in MN but if there's nothing in a salvage yard they may be your only option. Now the original part number is a 5L3Z-4602-MA so maybe someone has exact specs on that number that I cannot see. Regardless of build dates there's a good chance they are the same for the 04-08 trucks. I can't fully verify that but it is definitely possible. You may have to swap a yoke or something but if your options are limited then it may be a way to get it fixed and back on the road. I know shipping from the mainland is ridiculous and takes forever so I'm sure you're trying to avoid it if possible.

-Dan F

 

Thanks Dan, appreciate the info. So..... a bit disheartening to see it is more specific, than generic. I am looking for and 04-08 FX4, extended cab, with a 5.4 engine. NOT going to find one on Maui, as we barely have a junkyard here. I will take a look at Oahu, but doubt that too, as to one just sitting waiting to be taken apart in a junkyard. I think I will have to look at the junkyards in LA, as I do have some options (connections) for better than average shipping. MY bigger thought, is, if this just failed due to age, and a bit of rust, my picking up another doesn't make me feel all that comfortable with longevity as to not having this happen again. The truck only has 145K on it, and I ordered it at the factory, and it runs (did) good, so was planning on having it around for another few years. Guess I will settle into knowing that this will not be back on the road in the next couple weeks.. Just had a complete tranny rebuild about 3K ago too.

 

UPDATE: I decided to see if I could get my F450 Diesel running to have a truck, as it has a sensor issue, and found a young diesel mechanic, who knows someone on Maui, who builds driveshafts (we have a racing community/ industrial trucking) here, so that is promising, to just have someone build me one, here if the numbers aren't totally off the board. So, maybe I will make it out of this, without it being a catastrophe. Will know more next week.