U-joint replacement indications

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Dec 9, 2012 | 11:38 AM

Jonota

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From: Kansas

U-joint replacement indications

So just over a year ago (8/15/2011) I did something I usually don't do and paid a local shop to do some work on my vehicles (in the past, this has gone poorly for me). Ignoring my normal instincts, I simply accepted the truck afterwards and drove it (with no noticeably improvement in anything, I had done it to see if it would help with steering lockup on right turns).
Today I yanked off the front wheels looking for brake problems, and the view I had of the u-joints makes me seriously question if these have been replaced or not. Recognizing that I am more than a little jaded, and not wanting to barge in and accuse these guys of scamming me for $400, I wanted to get some other opinions before I rip this thing apart for part numbers.
The first thing I notice is the uniform dirtiness (although I drive on at least 1/4 mile of dirt road every time I drive. The second thing that I notice is the lineup of the corrosion marks on the cradles. Anyone who has done this remember where exactly the part number is usually located? Is it on an accessible area of the u-joint without removal?
https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=EFE64CBCF7C099F9!140
https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resi...BCF7C099F9!138
https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resi...BCF7C099F9!139
https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resi...BCF7C099F9!141

Last edited by Jonota; Dec 9, 2012 at 11:41 AM. Reason: Pictures aren't loading??

Dec 9, 2012 | 03:40 PM

Texas Chain Ring

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Those look original to the truck to myself. According to the tranny shop I took my truck to after having the u-joint replaced about a month earlier by just some shop I got a wrong u-joint installed on mine but it works, but it's new!

We'll see how long that lasts...

Dec 9, 2012 | 06:43 PM

Jonota

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From: Kansas

That is my thought as well, I just want to get a few more in agreement with me before I dive in there to prove it. I previously held this shop in decently high respect for helping me with some hard to find parts and giving me some advice I didn't pay for that was good. But I'll be damned if I fork over $400 for them to screw me.

Dec 10, 2012 | 07:41 PM

nitrogen

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From: Carstairs Alberta

a whole year after the fact and now you want an opinion? good luck on that. now if this was a week or two after the work was done you might stand a chance. if it was done recently I would say you were cheated, but at a year I just couldn't say

Dec 10, 2012 | 07:55 PM

Jonota

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From: Kansas

Sure, my bad for not checking right afterwards. But I pointed that out already. I don't mean to waste anyone's time - I'm just looking for opinions, and if someone can tell me where to look for the part number so I don't have to completely disassemble. I didn't expect condescending sounding responses - I recognize and admit this isn't the ideal situation.

Dec 10, 2012 | 08:21 PM

Bigpipes 35

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From: Forest lake minnesota

The first thing I would look for is grease zerks on the new u joints. I know the factory ones dont have them but 9 times out of 10 the replacement ones do.