1992 F150 Universl joint help

[CDX825]

Having trouble locating a replacement universal joint for a 1992 4WD F150.

The universal joint im trying to find is on the rear of the rear drive shaft. All the ones the parts stores around here have are to wide. They measure 3.622 from outside of cap to outside of cap. They are held in with snap rings and you can't get the snap rings in place because the U joint is too wide. I measure from inside the groove where the snap rings go to the other side and its about 3.5 inches.

Even tried the local Ford dealership and they didn't come up with anything. I thought this would be an easy fix.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Is it possible that the driveshaft, pinion yoke was replaced at some point - and that you're not dealing with a stock U joint for a 92 F150?

I'd bring the driveshaft to a driveline shop (Fleet Pride?) and see if they can find the correct U Joint.

 

[CDX825]

Looks stock to me?

 

[UNC017]

Originally Posted By: CDX825
Looks stock to me?


That could just mean that its a well executed modification. Only hack-jobs don't look stock.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

If the original 1992 rear end was rebuilt in 2003 and they used a different pinion Yoke than original, or the original driveshaft was replaced in 2003 - the new components had enough time to rust and blend in with everything else.

 

[Michael_P]

Could it take internal / inboard snap rings?

 

[bdcardinal]

Something sounds off here. I had another customer with a similar year truck come in looking for the U-bolts that hold the joints in and the ones he had were huge. Even the largest offering we had were about half the size of what he had.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
Something sounds off here. I had another customer with a similar year truck come in looking for the U-bolts that hold the joints in and the ones he had were huge. Even the largest offering we had were about half the size of what he had.


It's a Ford - there was probably 3 changes for the 1993 year that weren't documented.

 

[bdcardinal]

Originally Posted By: Miller88
Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
Something sounds off here. I had another customer with a similar year truck come in looking for the U-bolts that hold the joints in and the ones he had were huge. Even the largest offering we had were about half the size of what he had.


It's a Ford - there was probably 3 changes for the 1993 year that weren't documented.


There is a reason why the rates of divorce and alcoholism among parts people is so high.

 

[Kruse]

Any possible chance that one from a '91 or a '93 would work? I had an Aerostar once where I put in new rear wheel cylinder kits. Funny thing was that the diameter that Ford called for and the aftermarket called for wasn't the right diameter. The rear end in the Aerostar turned out to be a leftover from the previous year and the rear end was the same as what was put there by the assembly line. After I got parts for the previous year's model, all was well.

 

[yonyon]

Try measuring the reassembled old u-joint. This will eliminate the possibility of driving yourself nuts trying to find a joint that will fit a bent yolk.

 

[NHGUY]

U joints are measured across the bare "Cross" and the cap diameters and snap ring style.Take those measurements or better..take the old joint to the parts store and hope they still have an old Precision U Joint Finder slide chart tool to decipher your joint need.

 

[Chris142]

Take the joint to a real part store.one with a book and not some lazy clowns that only want to type into a computer.

 

[punisher]

Originally Posted By: Chris142
Take the joint to a real part store.one with a book and not some lazy clowns that only want to type into a computer.


While I wouldn't call them "lazy clowns", a good parts store with a big spicer manual that lists U-Joint dimensions might be in order. I did so many axle swaps/yoke swaps/driveshaft swaps over the years a lot of the time the only way to get a joint was to look up the dimensions in the big book and go from there.