On my 02 Fx4 my rear and front driveshafts are rusty sort of, and small.
I've seen different model rangers, with Bigger rear driveshafts and are shiny like aluminum, they look hollow? Whats the difference and how much would one of those cost?

Also when Im in reverse and back up, mostly in the mornings, my front driveshaft squeels a little bit, is there a way to grease it?

 

I'm probably wayyy off on this info, as I know nothing of 98'+:

Stock shafts are unpainted, they'll all get surface rust, regaurdless of make or model, all steel d-shafts do this.

You can upgrade to a 1-piece rear aluminum shaft (which judging by the rust means you may have a 2-piece) out of a truck with the same two requirements that your truck has (4x4 or 2wd, and Manual or Auto trans). They can be from $50-300+ and found in junkyards or sometimes members here.

The squeaking you hear is more than likely your U-joints. If they're the original joints, they may not be greaceable, meaning you'll have to replace them (or have them replaced). Make sure to get greaceable ones if you do, then you can give them a couple pumps with a greace gun every week or two.

As for front driveshafts, I believe it's having a shop custom make one for your application (lifted or not), but I think Superlift makes a Ranger front shaft, but is designed for lifted trucks, which means it may not work on a non-lifted truck. However your OEM front driveshaft should be plenty strong unless you have a front locker or 35"+ tires (but you'd need a lift to fit these, and then the Superlift or custom shaft anyway), but your u-joints would most likely break before your front d-shaft.

Hope this helps, like I said I could be 100% wrong, and if so someone will correct me.

 

Some came with AL, some came with steel. My 01 had steel, I had it replaced with an AL for the clunking that occured with some steel shafts.
Weird thing is that my wife's 04 LII came with a steel shaft. Not sure why, but Ford did not go to all Al shafts for some reason.

They both are one piece, just two different materials.

 

Sniper, if i'm correct you can run the SL driveshaft on a non lifted truck. I'm sure someone who knows for sure will chime in soon.

 

thanks guys, for your help...Yeah i have some clunking too...When im driving and i let off the gas, then press it again it kinda clunks...

 

all 98+ plus trucks have a one piece drive shaft alum or steel. the 2 piece stopped in 97

you need new universals in your drive shaft. there easy to fix. do you have a vice?

 

Not always, the clunk is usually the shaft binding on its splines. Ford had a "problem" in the early 2000s, that's how I got the Al switched out for the steel.


I know someone on here has taken off the boot and regreased the shaft (please no useless posts about that one!). That could very well be your clunk

 

^^i forgot about that carl

 

okay, guess I'll just hold tight and see if that person post. I dont think its the UV joints, i've looked at it and turned the shaft to see if there's any play.