U Joints?

[cantflysolo]

Hey everybody!
Well, tons of new parts recently put in, but I still have a small vibration. I know this might be normal, but I haven't touched any of the U joints yet. I have 120,000 on it. Year 2000. I noticed when going down the road, it has a very slight vibration, and if you go down a hill, it gets louder and more obvious. I just had new tires put on and balanced, but it did this before also. Any advice? I can't remember proper procedure for checking U joints so I thought I would ask everybody's help. Thanks alot for any suggestions!

Scott

Oh, and I just put a new drag link assembly, track rod assembly, steering damper, Bilstein shocks all the way around, and then the new tires and balancing. I've only had it since 104,000 miles, and I read in a few places they should have been changed by now anyways. thanks again

[DiscoDream2]

When in doubt,,, rip em out...all indicators say it's time.

U Joints - Advance Auto - Neapco / PDQ 1-0005 @ $13.95
Centering Ball kit - Advance Auto - Neapco 7-008ING ??$$

[garywinter]

Do not take a chance with the front drive shaft. If it breaks it willcause massive distruction to the engine gearbox and transfer case. Replace all the U-Joins front and back and also replace the rubber coupling on the rear prop shaft.

[Disco Mike]

So what else have you failed to service? Doing thing like this will cost you dearly in the long run.
Now since you didn't lube the u-joints before, replace them all. as already mentioned, including the centering ball and rotoflex, then grease the u-joint at least every other oil change.

[cantflysolo]

Originally Posted by DiscoDream2

When in doubt,,, rip em out...all indicators say it's time.

U Joints - Advance Auto - Neapco / PDQ 1-0005 @ $13.95
Centering Ball kit - Advance Auto - Neapco 7-008ING ??$$

Thanks for the local sources DiscoD2. I appreciate it, thought I would have to do some searching. I'm learning as I go....totally novice but hope to catch on with everything. Thanks again

[cantflysolo]

Originally Posted by Disco Mike

So what else have you failed to service? Doing thing like this will cost you dearly in the long run.
Now since you didn't lube the u-joints before, replace them all. as already mentioned, including the centering ball and rotoflex, then grease the u-joint at least every other oil change.

Thanks Mike. I'm trying to get a handle on all the maintenance and time frames for maintenance, and I appreciate your help.

Scott

[IsoDisco]

I just had a new oe front drive shaft installed ($750). All vibrations gone. Sweet investment.

[antichrist]

Originally Posted by IsoDisco

I just had a new oe front drive shaft installed ($750). All vibrations gone. Sweet investment.

If it's really OEM plan to do it again at a maximum of another 50k miles. Most will last that long, though some have failed quite a bit sooner.

IMO installing an OEM propshaft is a complete waste of money unless your first one was beyond repair and you needed a propshaft ASAP to get you by for a few months until you have the time to rebuild it with greaseable u-joints.

Normally it wouldn't be worth it at all since you can get a new heavy duty Tom Woods or Great Basin propshaft for about 1/2 the amount, but would take you a day or two to get.

[Disco Mike]

$750 for a front shaft, boy they got you.
Should have done a little reading and paid $348 for a new Tom Woods shaft and 15 minutes of labor.

Tom, my first one failed at 37,000 miles, course I was wheeling just about every weekend.

[cheekoman]

I had a similiar vibration problem and changed front drive shaft.... Bought a Great Basin one... It's super burly and was easy to install.