im just looking around for a front driveshaft for a 4x4 ranger with the pre 1997 double card joint at the t case. i know some years of explorers and rangers will be direct bolt up but they are hard to find in decent shape. im wondering how close the jeep front drive shafts out of a yj, tj, or xj compared to the ford shafts? slip joint similarities, dc joints, shaft lengths, etc..

 

I have a shortened XJ driveshaft in my truck. They're very easy to find, picked mine up for $40, then dropped it off at London Drive Systems where they shortened and rebalanced.
They can also just build you a new one from scratch as well. Call 644-1200, ask for Matt and tell him Adam from Radar in Brussels sent you!

 

thanks, thats exactly what i needed to know! i wanted something longer so the xj may be perfect for the application as the axle will be offset forward by 3"

 

i came up with 2 shafts using the wreckers parts search

1987 wagoneer front d shaft in "like new condition" for $150
or
1994 explorer front d shaft for $100

ill take a look at them tomorrow if i get a chance..

 

first gen explorer

 

95-96 Explorer. They're not that hard to find. I have one in my truck because my 1354 manual t-case is from a 91 Explorer.

 

I think some Jeeps use a bigger u-joint so check it out before you buy! I just searched Kijiji for people parting out Jeeps and you can get a pretty good deal!

 

yea ill be checking around for a bit, thanks for the help and the ideas, ill be looking through the kijiji tonight also

 

Here's someone who may still have one... Parkhill isn't too far!

1994 cherokee parts - London Transmission, Drive Train For Sale - Kijiji London

 

ya i saw that one, ill call him tomorrow, i hope he still has it.. but im trying to contact a guy whos a little closer by with a yj shaft http://london.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehic...AdIdZ216025199

 

i think you want an XJ shaft not a yJ I am not sure that they are the same. Any XJ shaft from the early 90s should work well. id say 87-96

I had mine shortened maybe an inch.

 

ill be getting that xj shaft from parkhill, i contacted him friday and ill be going for a drive when i get back in town on monday , it should work out well

 

Right on, are you gettin a good deal on it?

 

i havent had time to talk to him over the weekend for long, im going to call him tomorrow for his price and details, but im sure i'll get it cheap

 

he wanted $75 but i talked him down to $50. its not in bad shape, joints are still good and the slip joint is just fine. i tested the fit on the truck and it goes in just fine but im not sure if ill have enough clearance over the exaust at full drop. its just a little rusty but can be cleaned up easy enough..

 

Looks good. If there isn't enough room could you just modify your y-pipe and put an extra downward bend in it?

 

yea thats probably all that needs to be done if anyhting, it wont be a big deal to configure whats already there. i wouldnt even mind completely redoing the pipe on that side to re route it all together..

 

You've got a decent about of room to work if you wanted to drop it all down I guess, it's tucked up there pretty tight from the factory.

 

ya thats sounds like the more sane route to deal with the problem, now if only i had my leaf springs.. haha

 

lol how's the rest of the build going?

 

full droop??? you beam fully compressed? full bump? THe shaft should be under the exhaust not above it.

i had a custom setup really close to the trans bell housing and at fully bump my shaft would hit and it actually dented the exhaust.

 

full droop, the exhaust runs along next to the trans crossmember, my shaft runs over it. the 2wd differs compared to the 4x4 exhaust setup. as i believe the drivers side cat for the 2wd is up along the exahust header and the 4x4 runs under the engine and the pipe is routed out of the way, but i dont know exactly..

heres a few pics of what i see when its in, it looks like the shaft drops enough to clear a 4-5" lift but im not sure about 6-8" as it may run very close or on the exhaust

 

its going ok, im just a little stranded until i hear back about the springs. ive got the steering mounting done, and the front hangar is taking shape but i cant really finish it until i get a spring to get the final specifics i need to complete it (sleeve width and sleeve bolt sizes). ill be working on some simple shackle hangars this week or next for hanging some stock rear ranger shackles, and then ill be done as much as i can do until i get the springs. its beginning to look very kit formed with it all sitting on my bench lol. i should just duplicate what i got and sell it haha. it really is falling together well.. minus the rancho manufacturing issues. ill post updates of all the new components when i can finally get them fully completed