driveshaft fell out
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: in a motorhome- I travel
driveshaft fell out
Hi Guys,
Just thought I'd share my experience today. Headed home from work on the freeway, cruising around 60 and my driveshaft fell out. I knew I shoulda changed those u joints when I had the shaft out when I changed the clutch.
The good news- wasn't too much traffic so I got the truck off to the side and the driveshaft waited till we got over before it came all the way out so I didn't have to dodge any traffic to pick it up, LOL. Good thing it was a level spot where I stopped. I put the truck in gear, shut it off and hopped out to see what happened. Didn't even think about setting the parking brake.
Did you know the truck will roll really easy even in gear when there's nothing but air between the tranny and the rearend? LOL, LOL, LOL.
Wasn't too much damage to either the shaft or the bottom of the truck. I got lucky and it was the back joint that let go. I heard something let go and start dragging. It sounded like the tail pipe, but wasn't.
I was just dialing my road service when a tow truck pulled up behind me. I found out that California has tow companys that work with the highway patrol to get disabled vehicles off the freeways for free. He towed me to the exit close to where I'm living and dropped me in the parking lot of a golf course.
I had about a mile hike home. Not bad, considering. A neighbor took me to the parts store and back to the truck.
Spent a couple of hours getting both ujoints changed. (Don't laugh, It took that long cuz, dummy me, forgot the hammer and had to use a cresent wrench as a hammer and those joints had been in there for a really loooong time.) It bent one of the clamps that hold the ujoint in, but it was reusable, for now. I'll pick up some new ones tomorrow, if I can find them, and replace them tomorrow night.
PLEASE, make sure you check yours and if they are looking worn, CHANGE THEM!!!
Trust me- it's no dang fun when your drive shaft takes off by itself. (The truck doesn't seem to want to go real far without it either, LOL.)
Happy traveling.
Just thought I'd share my experience today. Headed home from work on the freeway, cruising around 60 and my driveshaft fell out. I knew I shoulda changed those u joints when I had the shaft out when I changed the clutch.
The good news- wasn't too much traffic so I got the truck off to the side and the driveshaft waited till we got over before it came all the way out so I didn't have to dodge any traffic to pick it up, LOL. Good thing it was a level spot where I stopped. I put the truck in gear, shut it off and hopped out to see what happened. Didn't even think about setting the parking brake.
Did you know the truck will roll really easy even in gear when there's nothing but air between the tranny and the rearend? LOL, LOL, LOL.
Wasn't too much damage to either the shaft or the bottom of the truck. I got lucky and it was the back joint that let go. I heard something let go and start dragging. It sounded like the tail pipe, but wasn't.
I was just dialing my road service when a tow truck pulled up behind me. I found out that California has tow companys that work with the highway patrol to get disabled vehicles off the freeways for free. He towed me to the exit close to where I'm living and dropped me in the parking lot of a golf course.
I had about a mile hike home. Not bad, considering. A neighbor took me to the parts store and back to the truck.
Spent a couple of hours getting both ujoints changed. (Don't laugh, It took that long cuz, dummy me, forgot the hammer and had to use a cresent wrench as a hammer and those joints had been in there for a really loooong time.) It bent one of the clamps that hold the ujoint in, but it was reusable, for now. I'll pick up some new ones tomorrow, if I can find them, and replace them tomorrow night.
PLEASE, make sure you check yours and if they are looking worn, CHANGE THEM!!!
Trust me- it's no dang fun when your drive shaft takes off by itself. (The truck doesn't seem to want to go real far without it either, LOL.)
Happy traveling.
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 785
From: Simi Valley, CA
Originally Posted by judi48
It bent one of the clamps that hold the ujoint in, but it was reusable, for now. I'll pick up some new ones tomorrow, if I can find them, and replace them tomorrow night.
Old part number: C8UZ-4529-A
New (current) Part Number: D8UZ-4529-A
Still used today~local stealership might have them.
Last edited by NumberDummy; Apr 26, 2007 at 02:36 AM.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
Likes: 74
From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
Judi, Thanks for the chuckle. I was thinking while reading that I probably would have put mine in park and got out just like you did. You just don't think about the small stuff in times like those.
John
John
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Senior User
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From: in a motorhome- I travel
Thank you ND. I picked them up and installed them last night.
Glad to provide a chuckle for those who have helped me sooooooooo much with all the good information you provide
Judi
Glad to provide a chuckle for those who have helped me sooooooooo much with all the good information you provide
Judi
