Has anyone found a good DIY solution to changing Ujoints on the F150's without the spring clip's. I do not want to change the drive shaft and I would prefer not paying someone $350 to change them. Where do you get replacements? I can not find a parts store that can get them. I have not checked with the Ford dealer yet.
What was Ford thinking with this one???

 

The dealer will have them, but they will have the spring clips. The factory supplies the shaft without the clips so the balance will be right on when delivered. When the joints are replaced, they use the clips to hold the joints in place. Most times the balance is still fine.

Doesn't seem like it'll be $350 to replace the joints though.

 

It'll be at least 350, the u joints are 150 ea

 

I didn't believe you. So, I went to one of the online dealerships and you were right!

A hundred and fifty bucks for a freaking 12 dollar U-joint? Somehow, it just doesn't seem right! I miss the old days.

 

you can go have a new driveshaft made cheaper than that.

 

I love my fords but man... this is getting tough to swallow!!!
Plugs,ujoints,vvt sensors,cam phasers,front hub bearing combos and countless nickel and dime crap. I think Ford needs to rethink this. If it ain't broke lets fix it until it is!!! WHY!

 

I am in same boat. 2004 F-150 supercrew 4x4. Bad rear u-joint. Bought $15 good greaseable u-joints for a 2WD model, beacause I couldn't find ones for a 4x4 model. Now I know why.

Dremeled out the staking and tried beating them out. No problem, I could get them out, but the new u-joints wont fit. You have to buy the special $100 u-joints. If you are doig one, you might as well do both. Thats $200 in parts right there. Those u-joints are small too. Small bearing caps.

I started looking at the alternatives. New driveshafts are about $750. I cant see spending that money.

I could buy a used driveshaft at a junk yard for a newer F-150 for about $175. Then I would put new u-joints in it. Then I would probably have to have it balanced at a driveshaft/driveline shop. I figure that is all going to come out to about $250.

Third option is to have a driveshaft made up at a driveshaft shop. Called them today and they said that it was no problem to make me a driveshaft from scratch, including differential flange, transmission connector shaft all u-joints and fully balanced for $320.

I think I am gonna have them make me one.

What would you do?

 

Bummer on those '04s. I have a 2006 and I just replaced both U-joints last weekend myself. They were each $20.00/ea.. So $40 and an hour and it was a done deal.

The ones I took out didn't even seem bad. They still worked nicely. I just did it as preventative maintenance since I was messing with the rear end.

I have 110k on the truck and I just had a rear pinion bearing go out in the diff. I was hunting down the problem when I changed out the u-joints.

Changed my axle bearings too. Easier job than I thought it would be.

 

I had shaftmasters make me a new driveshaft from scratch. Cost me $340 with tax and it looks great! Called them at 9:00 and I picked it up at 12:00. They are only a few miles from me. I gave him the part number off of the shaft and he had all the specs already to make me one sight unseen.

All they do is driveshafts. They make a very popular aluminum one for Mustang and other high performance vehicle owners.

www.shaftmasters.com

Learned alot about driveshafts over the last few days. Learned that greasable u-joints are alot weaker than sealed u-joints and sealed u-joints balance much better.

Would definately recommend these guys.

 

www.rockauto.com

 

I couldn't find either:
1) A rear driveshaft for my 2004 F150 supercrew 4x4
or
2) U-Joints to replace the staked in ones that are on the 2004.

What were you referring to at rockauto?

Thanks!

 

I was refering to the fact that rock auto has rear u-joints for 4x4's.....helleva lot cheaper than a dealer.....not unless anyone tried tasca.....

Edit ......weird for the 2004 rockauto only lists the u-joint behind the transfer case but if 2006 is used the rear axel one is shown....

 

Yeah, it stinks. The bottom line, is that if you have "staked" (no clips) u-joints on your F150, you cannot replace them with a standard u-joint that came on a "normal" f-150 or later F-150. Most of them are on 2004 supercrew 4x4 F-150's. They also are on other Ford vehicles of that era like Mustangs.

The only options you have are to:
1) Beat them out and replace them with a special u-joint "kit" that comes with the special sized u-joint (smaller diameter bearing caps), clips, spacers for the bearing caps and a grinding tool to grind away the staking. ~$85 each at carquest or ~$135 at the Ford dealer. If you are doing both u-joints you need 2.

2) Buy a new driveshaft from Ford that includes new normal clip u-joints ~$700

3) Buy a used driveshaft from a junkyard for a later truck that will fit yours. You need to them put new u-joints in that one and you need to make sure it is not dented or bent. It would probably be a good idea to take it to a driveline shop for balancing. ~$175 used driveshaft+~$40 u-joints+~$50 balancing and installation.

4) Have a driveshaft built from scratch from a competent driveline shop. I didn't even know they did this. I bought mine today for ~$340. Just fininshed instaling it and it fit perfect and I can detect no vibration at all. Happy so far.

now, I just gotta send back my 2 extra federal mogul precision greaseable u-joints that were never used becasue the driveline shop used their own "better" solid u-joints.

 

That bites.....thank you I learned something new today.....
options 3+4 look the best.....

Take care

 

Begs the question, would a newer driveshaft from something like a 07 or 08 fit the older ones? If it would, why not swap out a newer one if you can change out the U-Joints then.

Just a thought.