Help! Keeps breaking U-Joints
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,812
Likes: 15
From: Central Ohio
Help! Keeps breaking U-Joints
My truck just broke down i am actually waiting for my wife to pick me up right now! The thing is this is the third time in less than a year that I broke my rear u joint in my bronc. The one that just broke was actually only on there about 2 weeks now. What is going on here? Its the only U-joint that has broke since I owned the truck. I got 2" blocks but the driveline angle seems perfect (the blocks were slightly angled). Its just an open 9" with 33 super swampers. The first times I replaced it with the cheapest advanced auto joint. This past time I replaced it with double the price Nappa u joints and also the retainers. But they only went maybe 300 miles and boom, clunk, clunk, clunk, I dropped the shaft on the road again! Pretty soon there isnt going to be much left of the end of my driveshaft if i keep dropping it on the road!
Any advice is appreciated!
Any advice is appreciated!
Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
Help! Keeps breaking U-Joints
Check your rear leaf springs. I had a '78 bronco once, and it started to use u - joints. I found out that some leafs were broken letting the axle roll to much. This had caused binding of the rear joint, breaking it.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 760
Likes: 0
From: Boise, ID
Help! Keeps breaking U-Joints
You might look at your spring shackles too. On my truck, I found the bolt holes in the front spring hangers were ovaled out making it possible for the front of the spring to move up and down about 3/4 of an inch in the shackle. I'm thinking this could cause U-joint problems too.
New User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Help! Keeps breaking U-Joints
check around rear leaf springs could be causing axle housing to roate also check rear of driveshaft not out of round oroblonged
also make sure you tighten u-bolts properly an not over tightening
also make sure you tighten u-bolts properly an not over tightening
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 718
Likes: 0
From: Golden ,CO USA
Help! Keeps breaking U-Joints
checkl all the spring wtuff as everyone else noted. from experience in bad u joints, check the pinion nut on your rear axle. if it is loose it will cause the u joint to work at weird angles and cause it to go bad prematurly.
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,812
Likes: 15
From: Central Ohio
Help! Keeps breaking U-Joints
Thanks for all the advice... I didnt realize little spring issues could cause the u-joint to crap out so much.
I bet thats it because I have had lots of problems with the rear end & springs. The truck doesnt sit level, about 1.5" difference from L to R, and I think its the rear spring packs. Someone just through them together, they deffinately arent matched. And there are a couple broken leafs and also some of em probably dont slide like they should because they have worn into the spring above em. I also once had an axle u-bolt break and also the guide pin in the leaf pack and had the leafs start sliding apart; leaving me with one tire ahead of the other and had to hold the steering wheel at 90 degree angle just to drive straight!
So what are the 'torque' specs for the u-joint retainers. I always just snugged em down with my open end wrench. Pretty snug but even with the shortie wrenches its not the most 'hand tight' that i can go.
I been meaning to get new spring packs though - I wanted to get 6" of lift. Because my springs are thrashed I was going to get the new 6" taller spring packs and get rid of all the blocks and re weld the leaf mounts were they need to be. But the lift was the last thing on the list after motor build and body work / paint job wich will probably take the whole year. Darn it now I gots a dilemma.
I bet thats it because I have had lots of problems with the rear end & springs. The truck doesnt sit level, about 1.5" difference from L to R, and I think its the rear spring packs. Someone just through them together, they deffinately arent matched. And there are a couple broken leafs and also some of em probably dont slide like they should because they have worn into the spring above em. I also once had an axle u-bolt break and also the guide pin in the leaf pack and had the leafs start sliding apart; leaving me with one tire ahead of the other and had to hold the steering wheel at 90 degree angle just to drive straight!
So what are the 'torque' specs for the u-joint retainers. I always just snugged em down with my open end wrench. Pretty snug but even with the shortie wrenches its not the most 'hand tight' that i can go.
I been meaning to get new spring packs though - I wanted to get 6" of lift. Because my springs are thrashed I was going to get the new 6" taller spring packs and get rid of all the blocks and re weld the leaf mounts were they need to be. But the lift was the last thing on the list after motor build and body work / paint job wich will probably take the whole year. Darn it now I gots a dilemma.
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