U Joints
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 154
Likes: 0
From: CA
U Joints
Is this a sign that my U joints are going bad?
Everytime I shift from either Drive or into Reverse the car jerks, and i hear a loud clank or *****.
When cruising at high speeds my car feels like its swaying from side to side and theres vibration.
If it is the u joints, is it hard to replace them? or if its too complicated how much can i expect to pay to get it replaced?
Everytime I shift from either Drive or into Reverse the car jerks, and i hear a loud clank or *****.
When cruising at high speeds my car feels like its swaying from side to side and theres vibration.
If it is the u joints, is it hard to replace them? or if its too complicated how much can i expect to pay to get it replaced?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 1
From: Port Clinton Ohio
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
First of all, don't drive the car again until you check them. You don't want to be going down the road when one of them lets go. Trust me, it's not fun. It can also do a lot of damage to the fiberglass, differential and other stuff under there. They aren't that difficult to change. Someone posted a how-to on here a while ago that was great. Might want to try doing a search. At the very least, you can remove the drive shafts yourself and take them somewhere to have the u-joints changed. It's just a matter of removing the bolts that hold the shafts in place. That will save you some labor. Good luck.
Abby Normal
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 53,307
Likes: 92
From: Press "2" for English
i agree that it sounds more like a bushing issue but i still think that car needs to go on a rack or jackstands before you drive it again.
take the spring tension off the T/As and (with the car firmly supported) yank on the trailing arms close to the forward mount. if you feel any slop, it definately at least has bad bushings. grab the wheel at the 6 and 12 o'clock positions and rock it in and out. you should have just a bit (maybe 1/2") of travel, which is normal. any more and you definately need to investigate those u-joints.
as long as you have the car up on jackstands, take a look at the underbody panels in the axis of rotation of the u-joints. if they're bad enough, there will be a tell-tale sign of "shiny grease" along that plane. it's the grease loaded with fine metal particles coming out of the joints. (ask me how i know about this)
take the spring tension off the T/As and (with the car firmly supported) yank on the trailing arms close to the forward mount. if you feel any slop, it definately at least has bad bushings. grab the wheel at the 6 and 12 o'clock positions and rock it in and out. you should have just a bit (maybe 1/2") of travel, which is normal. any more and you definately need to investigate those u-joints.
as long as you have the car up on jackstands, take a look at the underbody panels in the axis of rotation of the u-joints. if they're bad enough, there will be a tell-tale sign of "shiny grease" along that plane. it's the grease loaded with fine metal particles coming out of the joints. (ask me how i know about this)
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
Sounds like the upper and lower 'snubber' bumpers on the differential are worn out. Check to see if the differential moves up/down when you shift from drive to reverse. If so, the rubber cushions which limit such travel are worn out. $20 fix.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 851
Likes: 10
From: Palm City, FL
