Driveshaft installed wrong
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Joined: Jul 2005
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Driveshaft installed wrong
I have a 79 F-150 4x4. When I first purchased this vehicle the driveshaft was installed wrong. It had the slip joint near the rear differential. I reversed it so that the slip joint is now near the tranfer case. Since then, I started to look at each 73 to 79 ford 4x4 (particularly the short beds) and noticed that about 75% of them had the driveshaft backwards!
When I asked my local Ford Dealership about this, the mechanic shook his head and said that about 50 to 60 percent of the Ford trucks he works on come in with the driveshaft mounted backwards. He usually leaves them as they are, but could not offer any "benefits" as to why this happens.
Any ideas?
Thanks
When I asked my local Ford Dealership about this, the mechanic shook his head and said that about 50 to 60 percent of the Ford trucks he works on come in with the driveshaft mounted backwards. He usually leaves them as they are, but could not offer any "benefits" as to why this happens.
Any ideas?
Thanks
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,945
Likes: 3
From: Spokane, WA
The only time I've seen them like this is when the driveshaft is a double cardan (CV) at one end. The CV end is alway mounted at the T-case and the slip yoke will be opposite end, as my front driveshaft is. I haven't seen any stock trucks with a rear CV driveshaft though. 
Banned
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,457
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From: Grande Prairie, AB
I also see lots, one peice drive shafts with slip joint at the axle end.
Mine is/was also like that, but u-joints at diff and t-case are not the same size, so ya cant just turn 'er around.
And why is it backwards? It has the same effect either way doesnt it?
Mine is/was also like that, but u-joints at diff and t-case are not the same size, so ya cant just turn 'er around.
And why is it backwards? It has the same effect either way doesnt it?
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,697
Likes: 3
From: Marengo, Iowa
Originally Posted by ivanribic
The only time I've seen them like this is when the driveshaft is a double cardan (CV) at one end. The CV end is alway mounted at the T-case and the slip yoke will be opposite end, as my front driveshaft is. I haven't seen any stock trucks with a rear CV driveshaft though.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,945
Likes: 3
From: Spokane, WA
Off topic a bit but I always thought (for a rig that took a lot of abuse) it would be cool to center a divorced case on a truck so both drivelines were the exact same length. Then you could carry 1 spare that could replace front or rear if something happened.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 8,542
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From: Louisiana
My Bronco has CV joints front and rear. I know what you mean Ivan, about the drive shaft being the same length. I've always wanted to get a truck with front and rear D60s, it'd be some much easyer to bring parts on a trail for only one type of axle, and drive shafts being the same length would be nice too.
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