u joints

[bsalger]

i have a 97 disc with 110k miles on it. i bought it about a month ago. a week after i bought it, i started noticing a clicking noise from the front when i was slowing down between 20mph and 15mph. i was told this was the front u joints. can anyone tell me if this is true and if so, how many u joints will i need? also i would like to know how hard it to do it myself.

[antichrist]

Could be, could be CV joint also, though they usually first make noise when you're turning.
With 110k it probably wouldn't hurt to replace them. To know how many you need, look at your front propshaft. Not hard to do the work yourself, but I'd say if you haven't bothered to look at the propshaft at this point, leave the work to someone else..

[jviss]

Originally Posted by antichrist

Could be, could be CV joint also, though they usually first make noise when you're turning.
With 110k it probably wouldn't hurt to replace them. To know how many you need, look at your front propshaft. Not hard to do the work yourself, but I'd say if you haven't bothered to look at the propshaft at this point, leave the work to someone else..

What CV joint?

[jviss]

[quote=bsalger;208117]i have a 97 disc with 110k miles on it. i bought it about a month ago. a week after i bought it, i started noticing a clicking noise from the front when i was slowing down between 20mph and 15mph. i was told this was the front u joints. can anyone tell me if this is true and if so, how many u joints will i need? also i would like to know how hard it to do it myself.[/QUOTE

I had the same symptoms, yes, it was U-joints. Same degree of difficulty as changing U-joints on any other car, in my opinion. Unbolt the flanges, press the joints out, replace. I have a hydraulic press. You can use C-clamps if you're clever. I had a friend who would hammer them out - more dangerous, requires some "touch," but possible.

Make sure the shaft splines move freely. Best to mark, slide apart and grease with a good spline lube, like Honda moly 100.

Generic joint is Precisoin #344, fairly generic GM U-joint. For some reason, first time I did this approx. 1999, it was about $8.00. Last year, about $27.00. In '99, the part at the dealer was $112.

Check the condition of the vibration absorbing coupler at the aft end of the rear shaft. If it shows significant cracking (rubber), replace it. About $120.

Good luck.

[antichrist]

Originally Posted by jviss

What CV joint?

Front axle.

[jviss]

O.K., I wasn't thinking of them - you mean at the front wheels, in the swivel pin housings. I think its fairly rare for these to fail, most times I am aware of, any noise from there is a wheel bearing failure. The clicking on deceleration is most likely a front U-joint.