Note: The drive joints are very durable. However, if the protective covers are damaged, water and dirt will get into the joints, causing them to quickly fail. Replacing the front wheel drives is a labor-intensive job, and the drives are not cheap. In order to save a lot of time and money, avoid damaging the protective covers of the joints (for example, by running over a wire sticking out of the ground) and replace them immediately at the slightest damage. If water or dust gets into the joint through a damaged cover, it will fail after several hundred kilometers.
1. Place the vehicle on an inspection ditch or overpass.
2. Inspect the protective covers of the left inner…
3. …and the left outer hinge.
4. There should be no cracks or tears on the covers. Replace damaged covers.
5. Similarly, inspect the protective covers of the right wheel drive joints.
6. Check the tightness of the cover belts and the reliability of the clamps. The cover should not rotate on the hinge, and the clamps should not rotate on the cover. Otherwise, replace the clamps.
[The original post is on the web portal FORDBOOK.ru]