Tailshaft Problems Please Help!
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Junior User
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Farmington, Iowa
Tailshaft Problems Please Help!
Hello.
I have a 1989 Ford F-150 XLT Lariat 4X4. It has a 4.9 Strait 6 and a 4 speed transmission. When I first got the truck I drove it home and the tailshaft broke (shatterd). So I picked up a used one and installed it. Now this one is cracked. It is an aluminum tailshaft.
I know that they make both aluminum and Cast tailshafts for that model. My question is, Can I use a cast one instead of an aluminum one? and why do you think the aluminum ones crack and break?
I also have a driveshaft problem. It is a slip-yoke driveshaft. It vibrates when i get up to speed. But when I am going about 60mph it quits vibrating. I took the driveshaft off and ran it in 4 High with no rear driveshaft and it doesnt vibrate at all.
I have been told that if I put a cast tailshaft on that it is longer. My driveshaft looks as if the slip-yoke isnt pushed on all the way and that is maybe why it is vibrating....so if I get a cast tailshaft, do you think that it might fix the driveshaft problem?
Please Help
Chuck
I have a 1989 Ford F-150 XLT Lariat 4X4. It has a 4.9 Strait 6 and a 4 speed transmission. When I first got the truck I drove it home and the tailshaft broke (shatterd). So I picked up a used one and installed it. Now this one is cracked. It is an aluminum tailshaft.
I know that they make both aluminum and Cast tailshafts for that model. My question is, Can I use a cast one instead of an aluminum one? and why do you think the aluminum ones crack and break?
I also have a driveshaft problem. It is a slip-yoke driveshaft. It vibrates when i get up to speed. But when I am going about 60mph it quits vibrating. I took the driveshaft off and ran it in 4 High with no rear driveshaft and it doesnt vibrate at all.
I have been told that if I put a cast tailshaft on that it is longer. My driveshaft looks as if the slip-yoke isnt pushed on all the way and that is maybe why it is vibrating....so if I get a cast tailshaft, do you think that it might fix the driveshaft problem?
Please Help
Chuck
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,372
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From: West Cornwall, CT
Your transmission's tailshaft should not crack without there being another problem. The vibration that you isolated to the rear driveshaft is very probably it.
Things to check would be the rear driveshaft's front and rear u-joints, and the driveshaft itself. Worn u-joints or a bent driveshaft could cause vibration. Loose rear axle u-bolts are also a possibility.
Also, do you have a lift kit installed? If the rear was lifted without properly shimming the leaf springs, the front and rear u-joint angles could be different enough to cause vibration.
Good luck on this one. Somehow I think that the transmission tailshaft is a symptom and not a problem.
Lou Braun
Things to check would be the rear driveshaft's front and rear u-joints, and the driveshaft itself. Worn u-joints or a bent driveshaft could cause vibration. Loose rear axle u-bolts are also a possibility.
Also, do you have a lift kit installed? If the rear was lifted without properly shimming the leaf springs, the front and rear u-joint angles could be different enough to cause vibration.
Good luck on this one. Somehow I think that the transmission tailshaft is a symptom and not a problem.
Lou Braun
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Junior User
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From: Farmington, Iowa
Ujoints are new
The U Joints are new and the rear end is new also. You see the driveshaft is a slip-yoke drive shaft...if I crawl under the truck and wiggle the driveshaft up and down it binds where the two parts got together....if I take the driveshaft off and push it together more it dont wobble at all.....that is why I was wondering if the tailshaft had to be longer? Maybe someone else that had it before me tried to take an easier route and put an alluminum one on instead of a cast one ... cause the cast ones are longer so I have been told?
any more info on that?
any more info on that?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,372
Likes: 14
From: West Cornwall, CT
I'm assuming that your F-250 has a fixed output yoke on the rear end and a fixed yoke on the transfer case's output shaft. That would require a driveshaft with the slip joint in the middle.
There should be very little side to side play in the driveshaft's slip joint if it has a few inches of engagement. My F-250 has a slip joint in the front driveshaft and it has essentially zero play.
It is likely that your driveshaft's slip joint is so worn that it can bind up if it sees a sudden sideways movement. This could (would) transmit quite a shock load to the tranfer case's output yoke. Given enough of a beating, anything would break.
I'd recommend pulling your driveshaft and having a driveline shop look at it.
Lou Braun
Lou Braun
There should be very little side to side play in the driveshaft's slip joint if it has a few inches of engagement. My F-250 has a slip joint in the front driveshaft and it has essentially zero play.
It is likely that your driveshaft's slip joint is so worn that it can bind up if it sees a sudden sideways movement. This could (would) transmit quite a shock load to the tranfer case's output yoke. Given enough of a beating, anything would break.
I'd recommend pulling your driveshaft and having a driveline shop look at it.
Lou Braun
Lou Braun
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Junior User
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From: Farmington, Iowa
?
I dont have an F-250 I have an F-150. My Tailshaft is aluminum and my driveshaft appears to be too short. I also know that cast tailshafts come on those year trucks. And they are longer then the aluminum tailshafts. Agian my truck has a 4-speed tranny and a 300 6cl motor. So I was wondering that if I put a cast tailshaft on it that would make my driveshaft fit together better
