Drive Shaft swap

[Kaysboat]

I posted this exact thread on the 4.6 form, so don't bother answering both.

I'm thinking about doing a drive shaft swap on the 99 Grand Marquis, and replacing the stock steel shaft with an aluminum Police shaft. I had a couple of questions:

1) I've read you have to replace the tail shaft aswell. I'm assuming that's the part that bolts onto the differential and houses the rear U joints right?

2) Is there an easier way to balance the shaft other than the trial and error and hose clamp method as outlined in the shop manual? Can you get an aluminum drive shaft balanced at a shop like a steel one, and install it any way you want?

3) Is it even worth messing around with? (That's the big question).

Thanks.

[mrltd]

1) No, the "tail housing" is the rear-most part of the trans housing. You are describing the flange.

2)Yes, a shop can do an aluminum shaft.

3) Not really, unless you are putting 3.55 or numerically higher gears, and plan on doing lots of high speed trips.