U-Joint ID Spicer 1330F Series External Snap Ring IDN-148

How to ID a Spicer Type 1330F Series Driveshaft U-Joint or What is my 1979-1997 Ford truck u-joint size?

Spicer 1330F series u-joints with External Lock-Up (Snap Rings) were only used by Ford in 1962-1978 cars and 1979-1997 F-Series Trucks, E-Series Vans, and full-size Broncos. The 1330F or as it is also known as 1330SP U-Joint differs from regular 1330 series u-joints on the diameter of two of the u-joint cups. A problem with standard 1330 u-joints with 1-1/16" diameter u-joint cups is the distortion of the caps when u-bolts used to secure the u-joint to a yoke are over-tightened. Ford's solution was to increase the diameter of the 2 caps secured with u-bolts to 1-1/8". The increased thickness of the caps was quite effective in limiting cap distrision to all but the most ham-fisted installer.

A 1330F Series U-Joint is retained in driveshaft yokes by Snap Rings that fit into grooves machined in the driveshaft yoke ears and that seat against the end of the U-Joint Cap. 1330F series axle, transmission, and transfer case end yokes will have cast tabs in the yoke saddles to hold the u-joint from lateral movement. When used with an end yoke, a 1330F series u-joint are always retained with u-bolts. 

One very confusing problem with 1979-1997 Ford trucks is quite often, both 1330 and 1330F u-joints will be used on the same shaft. If the u-joint is attached to a end-yoke with u-bolts with a center to center u-bolt width of 1-37/64" it is a 1330F. If the center to center u-bolt width is 1-13/32" the yoke is made for 1-1/16" diameter 1330 caps. With a 1330F U-Joint, the 1-1/16" caps ALWAYS go into a driveshaft end or slip yoke and are retained by external snap rings. 

Two methods of forging the cross are common. The traditional Hot-Forged cross is cheaper to produce, but the cross hardness is a lower Rockwell value than the more modern and more expensive cold-forged crosses use in premium quality universal joints. Today, greaseable u-joints typically have hot-forged crosses and lubed for life u-joints will usually have cold-forged crosses. For older or lower power applications either cross design should provide satisfactory service, but for later model vehicles with either Diesel or high-torque gas engines we recommend you use premium u-joints with cold-forged crosses.

1330F series Driveshaft Universal Joint Specifications:
Cap Diameter for Driveshaft Yoke: 1-1/16"
Cap Diameter for Axle, Transfer Case, or Transmission Yoke: 1-1/8"
Overall Width of Installed U-Joint: 3-5/8"

General 1330F U-Joint Applications for Ford 4x4s:

• 1979: 1330F not common. Mostly found on 1/2 ton and late production 3/4 ton rear driveshafts
• 1980-1981 1330F Front Driveshaft: May be used for neither, front or both non-CV front driveshaft u-joints.
• 1980-1981 Rear Driveshaft: 1330F usually found at axle end of shaft on trucks with 6 cylinder or small block V8 engines
• 1982-1997 Standard 2 Joint Front Driveshafts: 1330F used on both ends of NON-CV Front Driveshafts
• 1985-1997 Front CV Driveshafts: 1330F only used at front of shaft. CV Shafts used on Crew Cab F350 and F250 trucks
• 1982-1986 Rear Driveshafts: 1330F used at rear axle, may also be found at front of rear driveshaft if transfer case output is fixed end yoke, non-CV type
• 1987-1996 Rear Driveshaft 1330F only used on trucks with gas 6 cylinder or small block V8 engines. Will be used at rear axle if axle has end yoke instead of companion flange, may also be found at front of rear driveshaft if transfer case output is fixed end yoke, non-CV type.
• 1997 Rear Driveshaft: 1330F Not used on F150. Rare on F250, F350, will only be found on small block gas V8 trucks with end yoke at rear axle. Most rear driveshafts for this year will have flange yokes and bolt to companion flanges at the transfer case and rear axle.