I just wanted to let everyone know so maybe you can have a heads up. I was driving down the freeway the other day, when I stopped to get gas and noticed smoke from the bottom of my truck. Upon further investigation I found out that the main seal at the back of the trans that goes around the drive-shaft before the yoke had popped out of place. the smoke was from trans fluid leaking on my exhaust. At the time I was not aware that it was a pressed in seal. So I simply pushed it in with my hand, checked my fluid, and left. When I got home it was leaking again. To make a long story short I whent to a Ford dealer who proceeded to inform me that it has been the second one with the same problem in the last month. I came to find out that the prob. was more than likely caused by vibes. anyway my trucks is in the shop now (under warranty), and should be done in a few days (waiting on parts). But just so everyone knows if you see any smoke and notice a leak at your trans, just call the roadside assisstance place and get it picked up. Sorry for the long post.
Bones
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2000 F-150, XLT, 4X2, Ext. Cab, S/B, 4.6L, 3.55 L/S, Tow Package, Sony CDX-C7050X Head Unit, 6.5' Sony Three Way Speakers In Each Door. Hopefully An Amp And 12' Sub Soon.
Bones, I had the same thing happen in my 96. Of course it had 100,000 miles on it before anything happened, but sounds like the same thing. The mechanic that fixed it said he had never seen anything like that happen on a Ford before. Mine too, was caused by vibration - I had just replaced the u-joints at about 95,000 miles.
FYI
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1996 F150 4x4 302, 102,000 miles
the seal on my 97 transmision did the same thing twice 3000 miles apart from each other so the dealer ended up replacing the tranny, and the drive shaft I belive there' a TSB on that I'll look into that. so far no problems yet
Mechanics all-too-frequently mis-phase the U-Joints either during a U-Joint replacement -- or due to separating and then re-mating the drive shafts (slip joint). The resultant vibration is a death-blow to the tailhousing on transmissions -- and pinion bearings on drive axles.
Just talk with someone that has a radical lift on his 4-by and has not properly dipped the engine rearward and tipped the axle pinions upward -- and you'll hear him tell of the driveline vibration and short U-Joint life.
In my line of work, the driveline vibration causes lever jump-outs (jumps into neutral), gear noise, splitter synchro destruction, and general customer dissatisfaction.
Almost nobody guesses that drive shaft vibration is the cause of their tranny or axle failure -- but it often happens.
Here's one that drove even me nuts -- on my own GMC diesel.
Had U-Joints replaced as a preventative measure (was way over the C-mark on the odometer). Driveline vibration was evident.
Had the center U-Joint replaced again.
Had the drive shafts balanced (and checked for straightness, since I witnessed a bozo jacking up the truck and having the rear axle drop down and pin the drive shaft to the hoist).
Everything checked out normal. Driveline vibration still evident to my trained butt.
On vacation -- towing trailer -- it got the best of me. Took to a garage and paid to just let me look under the truck.
Was immediately apparent to me what was the problem.
The first repair on the U-Joints necessitated the removal of the midrift support (2-piece driveshaft) -- and the fello put it back on -- only turned 180 degrees -- so the shaft did not properly angle back towards the offset drive axle.
That very little offset of the center support caused enough offset to throw off the shaft angularity.
Simple fix to a Verrrrrrrrrry expensive preventative maintenance.
(Moral - wait till the problem is obvious - and you can count extra pieces - before making any repairs.)
Would like to hear if anybody has experienced other issues relative to slight mis-phasing of the u-joints. I measured mine after getting the working angles set properly and found the tranny end and the pinion end to be about 3 degrees out of phase. (3 out of 360) Is this enough out of whack to get it fixed? I really don't notice any vibration or noise from the driveline currently---but would like to head off any future issues if possible.
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My Trans Broke!!
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