needshave

1996 ford, f150, 4.9, 5 speed.

My drive shaft is starting to squeak/chirp a bit so i decided I would just go ahead and replace both the front and back after I finished the brakes job today. I tried a host of different sockets sizes and nothing fit. After much unrest and enough trips under the thing I got the wire brush and the air motor out and cleaned the bolt heads only to determine, Nope, I don't have anything thats going to fit that. This is the original universal joint so they have been on there a long time. SO can anyone tell me exactly what I need? A 12 mm won't fit and a 13mm tries to, but soon slips. Is there a special tool, socket, wrench for this application.

Appreciate the help.

BLDTruth

The rear driveshaft bolts are 12-point 12mm. In a pinch you can use the box end of a 12mm wrench and put another wrench on it for leverage.

needshave

Thanks BLDtrth, I think I have a 12 mm 12 pt socket. If not, I will go get one. Do you try to heat these before removal? I just saw, they have lock-tite patches on them when new. These four bolts look perfectly happy to stay where they are.

CMERR

i own a set of Kobalt universal sockets (spline sockets) and they worked great for them.

needshave

Cmerr, Thanks. I looking that up now. I thinks thats a Lowes brand.

BLDTruth

PB blaster usually does the trick for me.

needshave

Good, I soaked them with PB, before I turned the lights out for the night. I need to get a 12 pt tomorrow then I'll give it a try. Thanks for the info.

needshave

Bldtruth & Cmerr, That worked. For those that may read this down the road, the 12 mm 12 point was exactly what was needed. I soaked the bolts overnight in PBblaster, the next evening I hit them with a bit of heat and they easily came off. Thanks all for your help.