propshaft length and material

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Feb 1, 2006 | 11:30 AM

x.l.r.8

Thread Starter

Senior User

Joined: Mar 2004

Posts: 144

Likes: 0

From: Singhampton

propshaft length and material

Having a brainstorm on another forum and we are wondering thelength of propshafts used in the aerostars, apparantly some had alu ones, if so which year and model, did the 3.0 5speed have a different prop, again id someone has one couls they measure the length from the centre's of the UJ's. I have a 91,92 and 95 all AWD all steel props so not sure if the alu information is correct, I know my props are 45 inches center to center, does anyone know of any diifferent lengths? and of course alu ones?

Feb 1, 2006 | 11:45 AM

copper_90680

Postmaster

Joined: Sep 2003

Posts: 4,452

Likes: 1

From: Southern California

Hi X.L.R.8.

I thought there was a recall on the AWD (your '95 and earlier will be affected). Ford was supposed to install a new rear half of the Transfer Case, and put in an alluminum drive shaft. Why do your AWDs still have steel drive shafts?

The first thing I did when I bought my '95 AWD was to call Ford and they were able to check my VIN against all the recalls and that one was done on the van by a local dealer. They even told me which dealer did it and when.

Feb 2, 2006 | 07:00 AM

Pablo-UA

Post Fiend

Joined: Oct 2005

Posts: 5,242

Likes: 0

From: Kiev, Ukraine

I made a new propeller shaft after tranny swap. But I have the dual shaft. One (rear) pice is made of alluminium. I had no opportunity to use welding to add slip yoke to rear pice, so I have slip yoke in first pice of shaft. Argon welding was used for rear part. All the pices and assemled shaft were balanced to zero. No vibration up to 110 mph!!!!! Unfortunatly I don't remember its length, but I measured the length to desighne a shaft, when tranny was installed. Mistake in measures may be compensed by slip yoke. It is not dark now, so I will make some snapshots and post you. Have you e-mail? It will be easier.

Feb 2, 2006 | 11:30 PM

x.l.r.8

Thread Starter

Senior User

Joined: Mar 2004

Posts: 144

Likes: 0

From: Singhampton

Unfortunatly 110mph will not cut it and I relly need to keep a 1 piece, I'm thinking the aluminium one is only 1/2 an inch shorter then the 96 cobra one, well the auto should be, I just need to confirm this before I go on a quest for a drive shaft. FMS do a 3 1/2 inch OD one for $650 hence the reason to locate a cheaper alternitive.

Feb 3, 2006 | 12:29 AM

Pablo-UA

Post Fiend

Joined: Oct 2005

Posts: 5,242

Likes: 0

From: Kiev, Ukraine

Principally you can find a long, made of steel shaft, with 28.5mm u-joints and to cut it. But you need a lathe and welder. After that you need to find a shop, where your shaft will be balanced to zero. Yes, it is easier to balance dual shaft, but if you have an original engine and tranny you will not ride faster 80mph, so you dont need to have a dual shaft, especially taking into account that dual shafts require additional ajustment.

Just try to measure lenth from centers of u-joints. I did it with tape-measure (+- 1/8"). And visit all the local junkyards. I belive it will be sucsessfull.

Feb 4, 2006 | 12:49 AM

x.l.r.8

Thread Starter

Senior User

Joined: Mar 2004

Posts: 144

Likes: 0

From: Singhampton

looking at speeds of 140mph+ rather than 80, anyone know the changeover year or the recall year that the props became aluminium

Last edited by x.l.r.8; Feb 4, 2006 at 12:53 AM.

Feb 4, 2006 | 01:52 AM

copper_90680

Postmaster

Joined: Sep 2003

Posts: 4,452

Likes: 1

From: Southern California

Quote:

Originally Posted by x.l.r.8

looking at speeds of 140mph+ rather than 80, anyone know the changeover year or the recall year that the props became aluminium

As far as I can tell from Alldata, 90 and 91 were not affected. 92-97 are all affected by this Transfer case/driveshaft recall.

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Joe Kucinski

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

Brett Foote

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Michael S. Palmer

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Verdad Gallardo

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Joe Kucinski

2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Brett Foote

2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

Michael S. Palmer

10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

Joe Kucinski

Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

Brett Foote

5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

Joe Kucinski

Feb 4, 2006 | 05:18 AM

96_4wdr

Post Fiend

Joined: Apr 2005

Posts: 5,720

Likes: 5

From: Washington state

Pablo,
nice job on driveline, hvy duty....is that an 8.8 inch Ford rear end?...
good looking tires, agressive tread, good for snow and mud

Feb 4, 2006 | 06:24 AM

#10

Pablo-UA

Post Fiend

Joined: Oct 2005

Posts: 5,242

Likes: 0

From: Kiev, Ukraine

Quote:

.is that an 8.8 inch Ford rear end?...

I dont know, it was found on one of local junk-yards... in very good condition. The gue on this junkyard told me, that it is the lust part from the SUV, but when I asked him what a SUV, he answered Ford. The rear axe is wider then original for 1-2". Brake drums are bigger, the axe is very heavy (i carried it to my van). It is self-locking, but if one wheel skids I feel a nock like someone noks my tail, but the van starts. There is no label. How to indentify it? I use it for winter, for summer I use original, becouse this one is slow (it seemes to me ratio is 3.9-4.2). I use the 2nd to start on green. And I drive over the city on 5th... Original is 3.37 as I remember.
I have 2wd only, but she really easelly runs on snow. Tires are made by Omsk (Siberia) tire plant especially for winter off-road. Size 225/70 R14. But these tires are not stabil on hight speed. I have old good Summit 215/70 R14 and Rosava (Ukraine) 205/65R15 for summer.

Feb 4, 2006 | 09:46 PM

#11

96_4wdr

Post Fiend

Joined: Apr 2005

Posts: 5,720

Likes: 5

From: Washington state

is this what you have? 9 inch Ford w 3 bearing pinion shaft, one tough mother, used in racing apps, highly prized and getting hard to find

http://www.ridgenet.net/~biesiade/Fordrears.html

here is comparison of 7.5" and 8.8"

http://www.usgear.com/tl/ford1.htm

probably 4.10 gears, great combination w the 5 speed
ur 5 speed syncro in all 5?, is 5th OD or direct?

have Omsk start exporting those mud/snows to the US, hard to find any decent deep aggressive lug tread over here for car/lt truck in smaller sizes 14 and 15" wheels

Last edited by 96_4wdr; Feb 4, 2006 at 09:50 PM.

Feb 5, 2006 | 01:44 AM

#12

xlt4wd90

Lead Driver

Joined: Sep 2003

Posts: 7,013

Likes: 205

From: SoCal

Gee, I didn't know that there was a 9" diff that came in the 3 link setup that the Aerostar uses. Unless the version of Aero that Pablo has uses a more conventional 4 link rear.

Yes, the Ford 9" diff carrier is stronger than other designs due to its pinion snout bearing. But this design has the pinion engaging the ring gear at the bottom of the ring, instead of the front:

9 inch: _O

others: -O

This requires a different cut for the gear teeth, which results in more friction in the 9 inch design than others, which in turn results in more heat from wasted energy. Most people using these diffs aren't concerned with the extra loss.

Also, based on Pablo's description, that carrier sounds like it has a locker type diff inside.

Feb 5, 2006 | 09:07 AM

#13

Pablo-UA

Post Fiend

Joined: Oct 2005

Posts: 5,242

Likes: 0

From: Kiev, Ukraine

4th is direct, 5th-Od.

It seems to me one my axe is 7.5, the other - 8.8.

About tires. Many european companies make tires for snow. The mos popular are Nokian Hackapelitta and Good Year ultra grip here. But these tires are too expencive. 14" and 15" are popular sizes here. The most popular size is 205/70R14.

Feb 5, 2006 | 09:28 AM

#14

96_4wdr

Post Fiend

Joined: Apr 2005

Posts: 5,720

Likes: 5

From: Washington state

anything could be stuck under the rear of an Aero including a Mack diff with enough cutting and welding

Feb 5, 2006 | 10:04 AM

#15

Pablo-UA

Post Fiend

Joined: Oct 2005

Posts: 5,242

Likes: 0

From: Kiev, Ukraine

I had an idea to add fwd axe to my aero and to make it 4WD, but the lust winter shows me, there is no reason. Good tires are chepper!
I've heard, that there are many problems related with 4WD.
And as say in Russia: better SUV, longer way to find a tracktor!