Should you be able to turn your front drive shaft by hand?

Tiny
CHRIS001
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 FORD F-150
  • 5.4L
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 238,000 MILES
Front drive shaft.
Sunday, July 24th, 2022 AT 11:57 AM

7 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,643 POSTS
With the front wheels off the ground and the transfer case in 2wd the front driveshaft should turn. What kind of problem are you having?
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Sunday, July 24th, 2022 AT 1:53 PM
Tiny
CHRIS001
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  • 44 POSTS
Well, when I put the truck into drive it bumps sometimes then it doesn't make a sound at all going down the road. It sounds like it's jerking in the rear end, then sometimes up toward the middle of the truck. The transmission seems to be doing good, so I thought maybe the drive shafts was lose, so I checked them. The u joints in the back were tight I checked the front drive shaft the one with a boot on it and it was not off the ground just in park and I could turn it both left and right by hand. I didn't know if the front drive shaft was supposed freely move like that or not.
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Monday, July 25th, 2022 AT 8:40 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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Does the truck have the problem in 2wd too?
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Monday, July 25th, 2022 AT 5:42 PM
Tiny
CHRIS001
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  • 44 POSTS
Thats what it was in as normal driving cercamstance
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Monday, July 25th, 2022 AT 7:25 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Can you turn the driveshaft by hand for the rear with the tires on the ground? Can you please shoot a quick video with your phone so I can hear the noise? That way I can tell for sure what's going on. You can upload it here with your response.
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Wednesday, July 27th, 2022 AT 11:40 AM
Tiny
CHRIS001
  • MEMBER
  • 44 POSTS
Okay, I figured out what all my problems were. I got a crack in the manifold causing miss fires on 6 of the 8 cylinders because it's leaking on to the plugs and a u joint is failing in the rear end causing the bumping and jerking associated with the misfire. I took it to a mechanic, it's an expensive job totaling a little over $1,600.00 maybe a wheel u joint other than a drive shaft u joint. But you have been helpful identifying things for me and the help of the front drive shaft turning was appreciated. I realize that in park it's supposed to be able to be turned freely by hand with a little resistance, but still fairly easy to turn.
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Wednesday, July 27th, 2022 AT 1:39 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Nice work, we are here to help, please use 2CarPros anytime.
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Thursday, July 28th, 2022 AT 10:09 AM

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