Do I have bad U-joints?

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Sep 4, 2007 | 11:02 AM

Surfer69

Thread Starter

Drifting

Joined: Apr 2002

Posts: 1,720

Likes: 19

From: Manhattan Beach Ca

Do I have bad U-joints?

I notice something is giving slightly when taking off on slight incline from standstill. Thought it might be differential or ujoints. Went under car and moved half shafts back and forth to check for play. Each side moved around say 4 to 5 thou meaning the ujoints were allowing that kind of play.

Should there be NO play at all and is that pos sign the ujoints are bad?

Sep 4, 2007 | 01:07 PM

BerniesVette

Melting Slicks

Joined: Oct 2004

Posts: 2,662

Likes: 8

From: Knoxville Tennessee

Were the yokes moving as soon as the half shafts moved? Does the car make a clunk sound when going from forward to reverse? This motion could be caused by a worn front differential mount bushing. It is a double rubber biscuit which could be what you are feeling; and it is easy to replace. Just a thought.
Bernie

Sep 4, 2007 | 01:13 PM

1fastC3

Racer

Joined: Mar 2005

Posts: 393

Likes: 3

From: Dallas, TX

look at the u-joints if they are oozing grease or the plastic/rubber seal is shiny youve got a problem, if they are not spicer solid u-joints you should probably get some, also the clunk could also be a worn out cross shaft. good luck.

-alex

Sep 4, 2007 | 02:11 PM

Surfer69

Thread Starter

Drifting

Joined: Apr 2002

Posts: 1,720

Likes: 19

From: Manhattan Beach Ca

I just replaced that differential bushing so I know it's not that.

These were not Spicers since I saw grease fitting on all except one, tranny to drive shaft, which WAS a Spicer. So someone replaced one, but not the rest.

I think I did see a shiny rubber piece. No clunk fwd to reverse just fwd on incline. The yokes didnt move when jiggling by hand. The play seemed small compared to the feel you get from the "slippage".

Sep 4, 2007 | 02:46 PM

BerniesVette

Melting Slicks

Joined: Oct 2004

Posts: 2,662

Likes: 8

From: Knoxville Tennessee

You are now referring to slippage; what kind of tranny do you have? You could feel the torque slipping until it builds torque or a clutch disk in your tranny slipping if it is an automatic. If you had bad u-joints I would think you would be experiencing some vibration as well. You could be **** like me and install all new u-jionts just for the heck of it.

Bernie

Sep 4, 2007 | 05:25 PM

Surfer69

Thread Starter

Drifting

Joined: Apr 2002

Posts: 1,720

Likes: 19

From: Manhattan Beach Ca

Yeah, I'm afraid of chasing my tail on this one. I'm convinced it's coming from the back end rather than the clutch. The only question is could it be the differential instead of ujoints. I put fluid in two years ago with less than 10K put on since.

Sep 5, 2007 | 03:17 PM

Surfer69

Thread Starter

Drifting

Joined: Apr 2002

Posts: 1,720

Likes: 19

From: Manhattan Beach Ca

This forum rocks!

A member (Busrydr) just sold me drive and half shafts with new ujoints installed and balanced for a great price. I will install and see if everything goes away. Will update later.

Sep 8, 2007 | 01:10 PM

Surfer69

Thread Starter

Drifting

Joined: Apr 2002

Posts: 1,720

Likes: 19

From: Manhattan Beach Ca

Update.

Put the new ujoints and halfshafts in and problem is gone. Took 6 hours for everything.

Funny, someone put a 3" Spicer halfshaft on one side and left stock 2.5inch on the other. Dont know if it really matters. Now I have stock 2.5 on both sides.