I have a question with the rear u-joint on my 1989 ranger. I have two diffrent size u-joint caps on it. (two diffrent size dia) one style that clips on the inside of yoke is on axle and the ones for the drivshaft yoke clips are located on the top of cap in the grove of the yoke. it is a 84 axle code on the door sticker.open 7.5 3.45 ratio. It has 173,000 miles on it, it's time to replace it. I took both u-joints off at 80,000 and regreased them. When i went to auto store the one's listed for my ranger have only style and it is to fit both front and back u-joint. they tell me it is not factory stock then. It is all stock from the factory. I had this ranger all it life so i have done all repairs. any advice would be helpfull
Thanks in advance
Doug[/align]

 

You'll find many parts people these days don't know anything much less what the he** they're talking about. The only u-joints you can use are the kind that came on it. You might have better luck going to a salvage yard or Ford parts dealer to find it.

 

My ranger was bulit 04/89, could it be they used a axle or driveshaftfrom another year (88 or 87) ranger??

 

Call or visit the dealer (have your VIN number handy) and they might be able to help. Only they can ID every part that belongs on it. Plus Ford makes a lot of their own parts that the parts places don't have at all. Like you said - they carry a lot of the exact same ones. Partsamerica.com (advanceauto) seems to carry some more different pieces (but you can only get a lot of the special ones online - not at the parts store - heck the parts store told me they couldn't even order what I wanted and I had to do it online myself - so I did!)

 

its very possible that it has an 88 driveshaft its a very common thing have the parts store run for a year older or newer if that doesnt work try another parts store. goingstrong is right i worked at autozone for 4 years and ill tell you that many of the guys that came and went didnt know jack about cars or trucks,nor do they know how to provide good customer service like taking the time to look for at diffrent years or engine/transmission combos that might give you a different u-joint

 

4/89 means your truck is considered an '89, but being early in the model year could have been easily assembled with a late '88 part. It would have NO '90 parts.

 

Hey all
Thanks for the info