Are my U-joints shot??

[Maverick]

When I get on the gas it makes a creaking sound. I can sort of isolate it to the u-joints. They don't knock just creak. Anybody else replaced u-joints yet? Does this sound like a good diagnosis? This is on my 3500 by the way. 87,514 miles and still running. I think I was around 63,000 at the Rendevous. Gotta haul 10 vehicles tomorrow (Sat). No, not at one time....3 at a time.

[ 08-03-2002: Message edited by: Maverick ]</p>

[Kennedy]

If you have a keen ear, you can usualy hear a ujoint as a vehicle pulls away. The creak will be repetitive, and get increasingly quicker as speed increrases. I usually hear this on Fords.

There's not an abundance of grease in the joints, but they do have a decent, firm plastic seal on the caps. This seal does present some drag, so don't judge by that, rather by how smooth it works.

[Maverick]

The creak does get faster as I speed up. Once up to speed I can't hear it over your awesome exhaust system. I can see some smooth shiney metal around the movable part of the u-joint. Looks like the inside plastic seal is gone.

[Kennedy]

If you pop the rearmost one free from the diff yoke, you can pull 2 caps and inspect. Watch for falling needles!

[Brad Pelot]

There have been several people on the forum, that have had to replace thier u-joints including myself. Same creeking noise as you descibe. Good luck! Easy fix.

[hoot]

If you are real careful and have someone get in the truck with the e-brake on and chock blocks, you can see abnormal play when you shift between forward and reverse. That works better than the hands on method.

[Kennedy]

FYI, they will run dry and creaky for quite a while before any visible play is found.

[PEANUTGRWR]

DONT FEEL ALONE AS FAR AS THE UJOINT PROBLEM GOES MAV, IN MY FAMILY WE HAVE 3 DMAX'S AND ALL 3 HAVE HAD THE REAR UJOINT REPLACED. ONE AT 26K ONE AT 20K AND MINE WAS AT 40K. SOMEONE POSTED EARLIER THAT A NONGREASEABEL UJOINT IS BY FAR BETTER THAN A GREASABLE ONE I DONT BUY THAT BUT AS FAR AS I CAN TELL THATS THEN ONLY KIND AVAILABLE AS A REPLACEMENT IS A NONGREASABLE ONE LIKE WHAT OUT TRUCKS CAME WITH FROM THE FACTORY. ITS NOT CHEAP EITHER I THINK IT WAS AROUND 45-50 DOLLARS FOR THE NEW ONE. GOOD LUCK

[Maverick]

Yep...it was the u-joints. Nobody in Alaska had a set for a 01' 3500. They had to overnite them yesterday for this morning. $50 :confused: That would have been a bargin. Try $137 for 2 of them. Three of the 4 caps were dry and had no needles left. Glad I got them in. tongue.gif

[hoot]

Are there any aftermarket beefed up joints that will fit? John Kennedy ????

[Kennedy]

I used to run Precision Super Strength series on my 4x4 mudders. Dunno if that's gonna be an option/cure.

I think the angles are the big thing here.