Silly engineering...
Dropped = Dented, Bent, Damaged. The lighter the drive shaft the more efficient it is. Easier to balance, stay in balance.
Reusable gasket. Because they can make one. Actually save you money. Try and show a little technology.
What's so silly?
.
Reusable gasket. Because they can make one. Actually save you money. Try and show a little technology.
What's so silly?
.
Member
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 55
Likes: 7
Wouldn't installing a new shaft require balancing once installed? How would a shaft be in balance until installed and removed? I'd think if you make sure you're installing it in the exact orientation it came out, it would remain balanced. At most change the bolts if they require stretching for the installation.
Just like they balance a wheel on a machine and not on a vehicle.
Last edited by bartzmach1; Jun 26, 2016 at 04:21 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,337
Likes: 1,001
From: Lost Wages
How much would it cost Ford to troubleshoot an unbalanced drive shaft, at the dealer under warranty, and then have to supply a new part anyway, compared to just dumping it before installation?
I suspect that Ford has been there, done that, enough times to warrant putting the warning label on.
Smart and cost-efficient.
I suspect that Ford has been there, done that, enough times to warrant putting the warning label on.
Smart and cost-efficient.
5 Year Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 951
Likes: 222
From: Western Washington
It's pretty common to scrap parts that have been dropped even if nothing appears to be wrong with them. I worked at a machine shop where I made bolts and fittings for the aviation purposes... if a part hit the floor it went into the scrap bin and you made another.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 313
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From: San Antonio, Tx
kidding guys 
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,050
Likes: 230
^^ LOL bold....
who is balancing a driveshaft ON the vehicle? lol
how is that even done? I'm had 10+ custom made on all kinds of applications, all balanced off the vehicle. You bolt it up, if its not good, you rotate around until it is. If its done well, it should be fine in any orientation but my experience is that you end up having to rotate the bolt holes to get it right. Much like the rest of modern day parts, more expensive than ever, but less quality than parts made in the 90s.
/end rant on current product quality
who is balancing a driveshaft ON the vehicle? lol
how is that even done? I'm had 10+ custom made on all kinds of applications, all balanced off the vehicle. You bolt it up, if its not good, you rotate around until it is. If its done well, it should be fine in any orientation but my experience is that you end up having to rotate the bolt holes to get it right. Much like the rest of modern day parts, more expensive than ever, but less quality than parts made in the 90s.
/end rant on current product quality
Certified Cow Porker
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 1,323
Likes: 362
If the shaft gets literally dropped (not simply uninstalled), it's likely to be dented or structurally compromised even if it appears to be okay. It's cheaper to replace a driveshaft than it is to halt production, uninstall the shaft, visually inspect it, spool it up to check for vibration, and scan it for cracks or other defects. Beyond that, if the part fails and a lawsuit is filed, you're in deep **** if the plaintiff finds out you knowingly put a damaged critical part on their vehicle. Risk mitigation 101. I'd wager this decision was made by legal and business people, not engineers.