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Apr 6, 2011 | 12:03 PM

Ziegelsteinfaust

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From: Chino Hills

Good Luck Yesterday

I took my truck for a drive around the neighborhood to get some gas so I can drive it to school.

It started making this horrable noise, and shaking from the rear end. Then magically the drivesaft broke a U-joint at the axle.

I am going to get the parts this week for the DS to do this weekend, but do I need to do the other 3 imediately? I have less then 3000 miles till I do a bunch of work to the truck. Including a new DS becouse of the auto trans I will put in.

The other DS doesn't seem to have play in it.

What do you guys think?

Apr 6, 2011 | 12:09 PM

turbohunter

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From: Northern and Southern Cal

"Then magically the drivesaft broke a U-joint at the axle"
Splane Lucy.

Apr 6, 2011 | 12:54 PM

Jetcopterpilot

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From: Rossmoor at Seal Beach

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ziegelsteinfaust

First of all my question is how often are you lubing the U-joints in your drive shaft? If that is not being done often enough it can contribute to a breakage. As for making it another 3000 miles.... the next question then arises.... how much play is there in the existing U-joints? If they have excessive play, replace them before they ruin your drive shaft, if the rear one breaking hasn't already. Might be a good idea to have the drive shaft trued and checked for balance since it is a little easier to remove right now anyway. Another thing to check is the Carrier bearing and it's alignment! the carrier bearing on my truck looked out of alignment but upon further inspection it was the rear motor mounts that were causing the problem... they had rotted out and were causing a mis-alignment of the whole drive train. I replaced both the motor mounts, and the carrier bearing, and what a difference it made in the drive ability of the truck.... things got very smooth! They were causing undue stress on the drive line... all good things to check...

Apr 6, 2011 | 01:32 PM

shortwide

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From: Texas

check the other u-joint for excessive play, and then lube it really good.....they'll usually start making racket before they go south.

Apr 6, 2011 | 02:08 PM

garbz2

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From: Glendale Arizona

Always replace u joints in pairs.

As previously stated have the drive shaft checked for true and balance. If it was chucked and hit the frame and ground it is bent.

Garbz

Apr 7, 2011 | 07:37 PM

Ziegelsteinfaust

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From: Chino Hills

I had just gotten the truck registered for driving, and while I had buzzed it around the block a few times. It wasn't much of a driving record.

While I was playing around getting the truck running I used copious amounts of grease on the DS, and I-beams. I have about 10 miles on the truck right now.

Apr 7, 2011 | 10:16 PM

frty7ford

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From: Fairbanks

put truck in park check for play in u joints next put it in neutral move the drive shaft around through the full maximum range of motion you can get out of it if there is no play and nothing binding or tight I would run it till you pulled it after greasing it again