I installed a new passenger side CV shaft from o'reilly's and when installed my front wheel bound up and wouldn't turn more than 1/3 of a turn. I re-installed my original with 198000 miles and the wheel spins round and round. I don't know if they game me a bad one or the WRONG one. Has anyone successfully bought and installed CV shafts in a 2002 FX4 from any place, if so where.

 

I ran into the same problem with one of their shafts last summer. Tried it 3 times assuming I was missing something. Ended up determining that the compressed length was not short enough which caused it to bind up once you tightened the CV nut. I put in an older shaft that I had laying around and it went in fine. Having trouble with O'Reily's site now so I can't remember which shaft it was, but I believe I replaced it with a Cardone one from rock auto.

 

thanks for the responce. O'reilly's doesnt even list a 2002 FX4 and my local Ford house just tells me that part is disconntinued. I ASSUME that FX4 and XLT are different because my truck came with 31X10.5X15 tires and sat as tall as a F150 when it was new.

 

Not sure about that, but the problem is definitely the same. I assumed that all Rangers used the same CV in that generation, but maybe not. Either the specs on the shaft are just off for that company, or O'Reilys just has the part/model association mixed up. I'd just return the one and order another one from someone else.

 

fx4 and xlt share the same driveline components in the front

 

same cv's 2000 and up. just an fyi height doesnt change a cv's length.

 

They probably gave you the wrong cv. I picked one up one time and it was 4 inches too long. They aren't the brightest bunch.

 

When I got mine I ordered it online and had it shipped to my house. The part # was supposed to to be correct and visually appeared to match, just wouldn't compress quite short enough.