from the sounds of John's description, I bet it is location of build specific. or date of build specific.

 

Both my trucks were built in St. Paul. The other Blue 01 with a steel shaft was as well (even arrived on the same truck as mine from the plant, I got an old film photos somewhere of that from May of 01). The only two differences I could see between our two trucks which we picked up the same week was the drive shaft and he had a dual media radio and I ordered a CD-6. Other than that they were identical. 4.0 ext cab 4 door XLT ORP 4x4's with open rear ends and 4.10's. His truck had a april of 01 build date and mine had a may of 01 date.

I'm telling you, I think it was just a vendor thing. they used whoever bid low.

~HJ

 

2001 extended cab 4 door 4x4 edge 4.0 aluminum, from reading this it doesn't seem there is a pattern.
Identical trucks listed on here different shafts. Wonder if it was an option or just random.

 

lol
my guess is random now.

who knows ?
plus, since I bought my truck used, it could very well have been something the previous owner had done to it.

 

Mine has one

 

Both of the '03 Supercabs I have owned had aluminum. I wish the front 4x4 one was aluminum...it has a nice coat of rust on it.

 

04 fx4 offroad, aluminum. Sounds like they threw in whatever they had laying around.

 

i think mine is. i looked yesterday and it looks like a aluminum one but has that black dust look to it. like the mounts for a tonneau cover. i think when the screws get fastened or the two parts rub together during clamp down.

 

Yeah....see my '01 and my friends '05 and '08's were all built at St. Paul and all have the same builds except the '08 has power doors and the '01 and '05 do not, though I wouldn't think that would have anything to do with drivetrain. All are 4.0 4dr 5spd 4x4 non-off road models. I think in the early days(like my '01) there was only steel. Then alum's came into the picture and it was a hit and miss or based on truck build(03-05ish..transitional period), then they all went alum at a certain year(06??). I think it used to be truck build and what was around. Now it's all or nothing.

idk. lol.


I'm only talking of what I listed....4x4 xcabs.

 

Would there be any benefit to replacing the steel one with the aluminum?

Or is just weight reduction?

 

just weight reduction

 

My 01 had an aluminum shaft and I have seen aluminum shafts on 98-00 era rangers too. My 04 Level II, which you would think would have the best of everything, had a steel shaft.

 

The disadvantage to aluminum is it would be more susceptible to damage from rocks and stuff while off roading. If I had a 4x4 I would want the steel.

 

My 03 Crewcab has a steel shaft

 

My 00 ex-cab 2wd 3.0 5 spd has an aluminum one. Just to add to the confusion.

 

I'd love to hear fords explanation on this one.