I'm having a difficult time locating a used drive shaft for my truck. I've been searching online for about a week and calling different used auto part dealers. Each time I get close to what I am looking for, I get asked the question "Is it the front or rear drive shaft?". As far as I can tell, my drive shaft is one aluminum piece, not two separate ones. Here are the specs on it:

2002 Ford F150
4x2 wheel drive
V-6 4.2L
Supercab
139" wheel base
Manual 5-speed transmission

My drive shaft literally snapped in half and the last 4 foot of it that was bolted to the rear end was rolling down the road. I really don't know what caused this as I do not drive my truck hard. It is a vehicle for going back and forth to work.

The local Ford dealer here said they can get it new for $735, but I really cannot afford that at this time.

No, I do not know a lot about fixing a vehicle. Yes, I am a woman. No, I am not an idiot. I decided to post here because I felt that someone here would be able to help me out or point me in the right direction.

 

http://www.car-part.com/

For a good used one. Type in your zip code and they will find you one close to home. It's a free locating service.

 

A Driveline shop will build a steel replacement, new joints and balanced for about $350.00 here in Louisiana.

 

Yea, I noticed awhile ago that they went to Aluminum (OEM) for the 2001's. Not sure why. I have a steel one in my model w/ original u-joints, - yep , believe it or not, still original joints after 270,000 miles. Hard to believe for me and it's been my truck since new. Ford did something right there, for sure!

 

Check craigslist. Just in my area alone are 3 f150's being parted out. And a few expeditions. 1 good shape single cab 2wd truck with a bad motor for $500 that I want to snag and drop an L motor in

 

My 98 has alum

 

front or rear is because 4x4s have a driveshaft for the front axle also, tell them you need the rear.

 

Having worked in a salvage yard/garage,a decent salvage yard won't ask front or rear if you previously stated it was 2wd. If they do, call somewhere else... 'cause they know less than you do. Just my 2 pennies

 

Well, maybe there wasn't enough power behind the pedal to warrant a real drive shaft ? Just a guess.

 

 

I wanted to thank everyone for their replies. I posted a wanted ad in the auto parts section of craigslist, received a response within 30 minutes, and have already gone a picked it up.

 

Thats the thought I had, just yours is polite. the sad thing is MOST in my area have gone to "if its not in the computer we wont look for it", meaning they expect me to drive 3+ hours to find out if they have the part im lookin for in the off chance.

Just for an Idea of what driveline work costs, I had mine shortened, and two new yokes made up for it, it cost me $200. but Its balanced and if it pops the yoke I get to unbolt it and hand it back to the guy.

Car-part.com is great, I found axles on there for a decent price in my area.


hah lookit that, she got her parts in those two minutes it took me to type.

 

Klitch,
if we did not have the correct application driveshaft and we had a driveshaft from the same type tranny... we would measure weld to weld for proper length and would take it back no problem if the customer didn't like it.

 

TEAMWORK

 

10 years ago when I was too young to worry, thats how I seen things done. Not now around here and its frustrating.