Squeaky Rear End - Ujoint? - VIDEO
 

I developed a pretty loud squeak near the driver rear wheel. Thought it was a bad bearing so replaced the hub bearing, new teflon washer, torqued the big spindle nut to specs, greased splined shaft, etc. No luck. After some more reading, it sounds like it might be a bad ujoint. The squeak gets louder when I accelerate, and if I just coast, it's really quiet. What do you think?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGgls5tS6aY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGgls5tS6aY

From the video it definately sound like a u joint but can't pinpoint one as the sound can be from the driveshaft or one of halfshaft... Sorry and good luck!

Did you replace both bearings or just one side?

Mine sounded exactly the same as in the video. It was a bad half shaft u-joint. I could rock the car back and forth by hand and it would squeak like that. I could also move one of the half shafts by hand and see noticeable slop in the noisy joint.

I pinpointed the noisy u-joint by spraying motor oil from a plastic spray bottle on one at a time and then doing a test drive after each one. Once the noise changed or stopped I knew I found the right one. I just replaced all 4 half shaft joints together and the noise went away completely. But you can also use PB Blaster.

So get under the car and spray some PB Blaster or motor oil on each of the 4 half shaft u-joints and also hit both driveshaft u-joints one at a time to see which makes the noise change or stop. Then do a test drive and listen. If you hear the noise change or stop you know you soaked the right one.

:iagree:

Can't tell from the video how fast you are going, but a drive shaft squeak will be around 3 times faster than a 1/2 shaft joint. 2 squeaks per tire revolution, 1/2 shaft, 6 per revolution, drive shaft. That's assuming, like most, it squeaks when it bends and squeaks when it returns. If it squeaks only when being flexed in one direction (uncommon) then you'll get 1 squeak per tire rev or about 3 per driveshaft.

UPDATE: I sprayed the drivers side half shaft ujoints with PB blaster and took her out for a spin. No more squeaks. There was a clicking sound that wasn't there before when I backed out of the driveway, which is another sign on bad ujoints. Looks like I'll be replacing the ujoints this weekend. Thanks for the advice. :cheers:

One last tip.

Before installing take the caps off each of your new u-joints and check that none of the needle bearings are missing on any of them. The first set new u-joints I got where missing several needle bearings right out of the box.

What brand was it?

I don't remember. It was a greaseable set with grease fittings on them that you can regrease periodically with a grease gun. I picked them up at an Advanved Auto Store. Because it was a local purchase I was able to walk back in and have them exchanged for another set. I made sure the replacements where good in the store before I left.

I would check them regardless of what brand or where you buy them from.