Kattumaram

In what model year did the 5" diameter aluminum one-piece driveshaft used in the 139" wheelbase 4x2 F150 trucks become standard?
I've tried every way from Sunday and no one has the information, or is reticent to release it for some reason.

FirstFtruck

It appears that the 1993 SVT F150 Lighting was the first to use the aluminum drive shaft, not sure about the 5" standard. You sure its 5" and not 4.5" sounds like 2001 was the year that they started with the 4.5" aluminum shaft.

http://www.blueovaltrucks.com/resour...ng_history.htm

Kattumaram

The 4-1/2" driveshaft in 139" wheelbase trucks was recommended by Ford in 2001 to be discarded and replaced with the improved 5" version according to TSB 01-9-3, 05/14/01.
The 4-1/2" version in 139" wheelbase trucks was subject to whipping and subsequent vibration that, in the worst case, beat out the tailshaft bushing and damaged the housing.

My ride has a vibration starting around 65mph that gets worse as 80mph is approached. I attribute the problem to the currently-installed 4-1/2" shaft. Fortunately the bushing was just loose by about .020" and just needed a replacement.....at 185 bucks, labor and parts. The vibration is still present.

I talked with a driveshaft expert and he said he knew very well the problem with the long Ford driveshaft.

I can get a custom-built 5" aluminum shaft for about 600 bucks, but a good used item will work at a fraction of the cost.......IF I can find one!!

I get a lot of hits on a parts search, but none of them tells me whether the shaft is a five-incher, and I won't buy a pig-in-a-poke.

jonquil

I would go to my local salvage yard and have them put the request on the wire. If one is out there, they will find it pretty quickly.

Good luck.

Good old Bill

Hi Kat, later today if time and memory allow, I'll check with my parts contact to see if he has any input.

On a side note, I see "retired aerospace". From where? I was with Ford Aerospace, Newport Beach, Ca., in the garage of course.

Kattumaram

Thanks, Bill, I can use a good 5" shaft, probably from 2000 and on model. All the hits I've had so far on Web searches are for 4-1/2" shafts that I can't use.

My aerospace years were spent at Cape Canaveral, Atlas Weapons Systems, then Atlas/Agena, then Atlas/Centaur, with Convair Astronautics from 1958 to 1978.

Six months further on I was with Lockheed Missile and Space, navy Trident, at Hangar Y, Port Canaveral.

1979 to 1998 found me with Rockwell International, then Lockheed/Martin, then United Space Alliance, Shuttle Program, at Kennedy Space Center on Merrit Island.

I worked the Shuttle years in the VAB heading up the Kennedy Avionics Test Lab, Shuttle computers and displays, and I early retired in '98 to take advantage of an Early Retirement Incentive offered by the company, USA.

Kattumaram

No one seems to know in what model year the 5" diameter, rear, one-piece driveshaft for the 139" WB F150 trucks was made standard equipment. Not even Ford knows, at least judging from the inquiry I made of my local Ford dealer. The part number for the driveshaft is on record and the price for a new unit is listed, but there is no stock and none is planned.

Perhaps one of the salvage yards around the country to which I have an inquiry will find the time and expend the effort to answer my question....so far I can't even get one to measure the stock on-hand. So much for customer satisfaction.

jhimer

I have a 2002 with the 139 wheelbase. The driveshaft is the single aluminum. It is the 4 1/2 inch diameter. I have a quote from a driveline shop and they will rebuild my driveshaft with steel for $350.00 here locally. Mandeville,LA. That should stop the whipping action!
John

AFSOCSGT

I know the 2004 Heritage F150 super crew has an aluminum Drive shaft.

Kattumaram

That is a bit strange. I reviewed the TSB that directs that the 4-1/2" diameter shaft be scrapped and the models affected are 1997-2000. That implies that a 2001-and-on should have the 5" diameter shaft.

I hope the steel shaft works for you. I had contacted Denny's Driveshaft up in NY and he would not build a steel shaft for the my vehicle. The 139" wheelbase makes for a shaft too long to perform correctly....critical rpm and all that.

I have a used shaft from a 2004 coming in and I expect it to be a five-incher....at this point, however, my fingers and everything else are crossed.