I did a visual inspection last winter. I have not seen any cracks in the rubber, but I could push the shaft 1 inch up, so I don't know. Car has 50k miles. The U-joint at the transmission had no play or bind. The balancing weights were ok. I think a failing carrier bearing is a possibility.
How loose mine was
http://luxjo.supermotors.net/MUSTANG GT/DRIVESHAFT/CARRIER BEARING BUSHING/20220630_150645.mp4
Everything I find claims this driveshaft it "not serviceable". So far, this is what I'm trying. I marked all three connections with orange paint to re-install exactly like it came out. No nut to remove on CB flange, so it must be a really tight press fit.
Also check if yellow dot on driveshaft matches yellow dot on pinion flange (my yellow dot shown here on pinion flange is painted over black)
Hard to see, but there is nothing but hollow tube looking down hole inside flange that would need to be pressed off to change CB and rubber bushing. So the idea of using some form of puller is out.
So there is a tac weld on both brackets.
Ground those off and got brackets off bushing.
Rubber does not look ripped or cracked in any way. I think Ford just made it too soft to begin with. Hard to believe I could not find more info on these failing, if mine was this bad at this low mileage.
Ended up getting some 1/4" X 3/4" rubber strip from McMaster Carr. Luckily, they have a jersey warehouse about 12 miles down the highway from me.
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High temp, up to 500F and durometer 50 (so medium hardness)
I was able to "shim" the stock rubber bushing all the way around with this rubber strip.
All together with bolts holding it for now. Running rubber shim all the way around, also ensures shaft is centered in bushing.
Break out the welder and re-tac'd those brackets together
Testing the "play", with virtually all my weight on it (whole 156 lbs
)
http://luxjo.supermotors.net/MUSTANG GT/DRIVESHAFT/CARRIER BEARING BUSHING/TWO/20220705_170930.mp4
Seems at least as stiff as the new DS in the only video I could find on S197 shaft replacement. Has held for a couple years so far this way. Vibes reduced 95%