My U Joints are shot!!!

[CoastieCosta567]

can any1 of yo guy show some kind of step to step pictures to check the u joints, sorry, i just learn and understand things better with pictures, . Thanx guys. also on how to grease them and what grease to use?

[etlsport]

check back around 9 or 10 tonight, i'll see if i can put together a quick vid of greasing them.

[JHarris1385]

Etl you mention the grease fitting....

I have a friend with a Ford Explorer AWD and where the drive shaft enters the transfer case the "seal" there has ripped and the grease has spun out of there. You have any idea what to call that seal/gasket part? He is less mechanical than I, and our local parts guy at OReiley's did not know the proper name.

Thanks.

[CoastieCosta567]

Thanx Etl..

[tomdietrying]

My U-joints went bad around 90,000 miles. Basically, the U-joint connects to the drive shaft. Your drive shaft should be tight and steady. If you grab your drive shaft with two hands. Try moving it back and forth. It shouldn't move at all. If it does, your U-joint needs to be replaced.

Also, if the back of your car shakes in the rear suspect the U-joint. Go 20-30 miles per hour, the car starts shaking, release your foot off of the gas, it should ease shaking. If this happens, you have bad U-joints.

Peace.
Tom
012009

[tom4bren]

taylorRichie,

Unless I'm mistaken (it happens) the Universal Joint is actually comprised of the plus shaped piece (forget what the real name of that piece is), the yoke (actually 2) and the spline. Typically tho, you only need to replace the plus shaped piece - there are roller bearings inside the end caps & those are usually the only thing that goes bad.

The good news is that the parts are usually cheap. The bad news is that it can be a real pain to replace them. If you do it yourself, make sure you put them back together EXACTLY the same as they came out. If you get the phase wrong, you'll get UBER vibration.

Did a little research:

The piece shaped like a plus sign is called 'the cross'

Also: "Among the most common causes of U-joint and slip failure is the lack of proper lubrication. Properly sized U-joints that are adequately lubricated at recommended intervals will normally meet or exceed operational requirements. Proper lubrication flushes of U-joints thus remove contaminants from the bearing caps."

[taylorRichie]

Very good Tom

Thanks for the correction.

The Universal Joint is the combination of the Yokes, The Cross, and the parts that keep 'em together.

I greased my U joints this evening, but I could get much to even penetrate the zerk... weird.

Awesome Image of the complete U-Joint