Universal Joints?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 811
Likes: 0
From: Nashville TN
Universal Joints?
How do you know when they are bad? I feel a slight jar as my car just begins to accelerate and I'm getting the same thing as I deccelerate. Basically my drivetrain feels loose all of the sudden, c-beam is tight as well. Any ideas?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,142
Likes: 484
From: Leonardtown Maryland
I'd like to know too. Mine is a 6-speed and I get a slight vibration and rumble near redline and above 65 MPH. I inspected the undercarriage and tried to rotate the driveshaft and half-shafts to see if there was any slop and didn't find any. As a matter of fact the drivetrain is very tight. Bad u-joints I've seen in the past either showed rusty deposits around the bearing caps or blown out seals. The only thing I saw on my car was a little bit of grease on the driver side half shafts u-joints which may be an indication that they are going. I don't know. One recommendation from another CF member was that I might have bad rear bearings which might be your problem too. So how do you tell, or do we just replace everything? Seems to me the half shafts might be easier to remove (for u-joint replacement) if the bearings are out.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,212
Likes: 10
From: Sun City West Az
For a bearing check, jack up the rear. Grab the tire at the 6 & 12 o'clock position. Try to rock the tire in and out. There should be no movement. Movement indicates a bearing problem.
The u joint can be checked with large screw driver placed in the trunion of the joint.
The u joint can be checked with large screw driver placed in the trunion of the joint.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 506
Likes: 12
From: Savannah GA
High speed vibration is definite sign if you sure it's not tires.
The outer ones go first of course.
The driveshaft u-joints don't move much. Mine looked new even after nearly 200kmiles in a street driven automatic. I'm working on the 3rd set of half-shaft u-joints.
With the yank test make sure your looking at wheel bearings slack not suspension movement. The factory manual says use a dial indicator with the wheel off. I think it's anything over .006" is history. Look in the book to be sure.
The outer ones go first of course.
The driveshaft u-joints don't move much. Mine looked new even after nearly 200kmiles in a street driven automatic. I'm working on the 3rd set of half-shaft u-joints.
With the yank test make sure your looking at wheel bearings slack not suspension movement. The factory manual says use a dial indicator with the wheel off. I think it's anything over .006" is history. Look in the book to be sure.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,142
Likes: 484
From: Leonardtown Maryland
Originally Posted by ittlfly
For a bearing check, jack up the rear. Grab the tire at the 6 & 12 o'clock position. Try to rock the tire in and out. There should be no movement. Movement indicates a bearing problem.
The u joint can be checked with large screw driver placed in the trunion of the joint.
The u joint can be checked with large screw driver placed in the trunion of the joint.
