Drive-shaft interchangability

[King_V]

So, I'm pretty sure I nuked a u-joint last night, not yet sure if it's the front or rear. Of course. Sunday night, not Friday. I'll probably have to take it to a shop to get done, given work, etc. and that I no longer have The Blue Rajah as a backup.

Considering that both were changed about a year and a half ago, this makes me wonder if my driveshaft is slightly warped. If that's the case, how interchangeable are driveshafts on Panther cars, assuming they're equipped with AOD.

My car is a 1987, so is it just pre-88 that's the right length? 88-91 will work? CV and GM interchangable? What about the post-box era?

Or is dealing with junkyard driveshafts a bad idea?

[magnus77]

subscribing to this.

[King_V]

Whoops - well, while I actually still am curious as to the answer to this question, it turns out that my problem is not driveshaft/u-joint related at all...

It appears that I've annihilated a front wheel-bearing. Considering the noise from that showed up abruptly last night when I was at speeds around 70 MPH, I count myself lucky that this didn't result in a catastrophic accident for me.

[nfldfordltd]

I don't know the answer to your questions, however I can share my personal driveshaft experience with you.
In my 88 Town Car, the driveshaft seems to be about an inch too long. Typically, Town Cars have a slightly longer wheelbase than the Fords and Mercurys. But, the Lincoln AOD tailshaft is supposed to be longer to accommodate for this.
I put a JY AOD in my Lincoln after I broke the tailshaft off back in 2008. It appeared to be slightly shorter than the Lincoln AOD that came out of there, like from a Mustang, full size Ford or Mercury. I thought the driveshaft would now fit better with the gained clearance between the transmission tailshaft and rear axle flange. It wasn't so; the driveshaft was still what seemed to be too long and I had to work like a mofo to get it back up and in place.
As far as I know, the Ford and Mercury driveshafts are all a common length. Probably the same for the Lincolns as well, where they had the longer AOD similar to a 2WD F-150 from the same time era. (Lincoln and truck=long AOD, other RWD cars=short AOD)
I still, after owning the car for 10 years, can't understand why the driveshaft is too long. It doesn't appear to be modified; the frame looks and measures square, straight and true.
All that being said, it may not be a problem with your driveshaft being warped. U-joints are the type of part that sometimes you get good ones that last a long time, others are garbage and don't last for squat. I'm all the time changing U-joints in my 96 F-150 4x4, usually in the front axle. Driveshaft U-joints maximum two years. I can't get any more than a year out of them, no matter how much I pay for them. And I only use the 4x4 for in the snow+ice, I'm not a hardcore 4-wheeler, never use 4x4 on dry pavement.

[nfldfordltd]

Whoops - well, while I actually still am curious as to the answer to this question, it turns out that my problem is not driveshaft/u-joint related at all...

It appears that I've annihilated a front wheel-bearing. Considering the noise from that showed up abruptly last night when I was at speeds around 70 MPH, I count myself lucky that this didn't result in a catastrophic accident for me.

Wheel bearings are probably the most neglected part on any vehicle. Until meltdown occurs. Glad you're safe.

[pantera77]

Town cars have a longer driveshaft and a longer output shaft and tailshaft housing.

Vic's in Marq's all have the same length driveshaft (assuming it's an AOD car, not one of those early oddball cars), but 79-89 have the small pinion flange, 90+ have the large one.

[nfldfordltd]

Town cars have a longer driveshaft and a longer output shaft and tailshaft housing.

Vic's in Marq's all have the same length driveshaft (assuming it's an AOD car, not one of those early oddball cars), but 79-89 have the small pinion flange, 90+ have the large one.

Roger that. Thanks

[knucklehead0202]

Wheel bearings are probably the most neglected part on any vehicle. Until meltdown occurs. Glad you're safe.

Agreed. Whenever I do brakes I generally just replace rotors and do new wheel bearings. It's such cheap insurance as to be ridiculous. Now if you have some monkeys do your brakes...well, good luck. Some of those assclowns don't even re-pack the bearings. Fuckin' scary

[King_V]

Wheel bearings are probably the most neglected part on any vehicle. Until meltdown occurs. Glad you're safe.

Clearly! Though, in this case, I remember inspecting it not too long ago . . though, what my inspection is worth, well.... I changed the outer (one roller slightly damaged), but the inner "looked fine"

I will admit this - usually I'll start hearing a little noise, or the wheel will jiggle very slightly if yanked on, when a bearing is going. I have never had one go from fine and quiet to holy-shit-what-just-happened before... when I pull it out, it should be.. ahem, interesting.

Oh, added bonus, lost the key for the security lug I have on each wheel. This is getting exciting. Had to pay (a lot) to get the one taken off, but I have time to deal with the other three. Still, once I get the bearing (or chunks) out, I'll have to take a photo. The carnage should be, ah, interesting, and I hope no damage has occurred to the spindle.