Hi, I have a 99 F150 4x4 4.6L automatic trans. The truck has 260,000 miles on it. Saturday, while going down the interstate, this chirping noise started up from the rear. When I got home I jacked the rear up and spun the wheels while listening. There is a chirping noise that, as best as I can tell is coming from around the front of the driveshaft around the u-joint area. I've never known of a u-joint to make this type of noise before. There is no vibration or anything, just the noise. The frequency of the noise increases and decreases as I speed up and slow down. I dont think it's coming from the transmission, but it's hard to tell, as everything echoes. I couldnt imaging the driveshaft itself making this noise, but I guess it's possible. Has anyone else experienced this?

 

I looked underneath the truck and there isnt anything hitting the driveshaft or u-joint. And the noise sounds too far forward to be the differential

 

This is actually quite common The U-joints Get dry and small rust deposits cause the squeak.

 

Are the u-joints on these trucks made to where you can grease them or are they sealed? At this point, if its already squeaking, would adding grease even help? Probly just have to replace I assume.

 

It depends on suspension packages but if its making noise it's best to replace it and since you'll have the drive shaft off it's best to do them all as one usually follows the other for going out

 

Ok. Ill see if there are grease fittings and if there are i'll try that first. Either way though im going to have to wait until it gets worse as i do not have the cash right now. Thanks for all the info. I'll post back when I replace them to say wether or not that fixed it.

 

Don't run the squeeking u-joint too long. If neglected long enough they can grenade and drop your driveshaft to the pavement. It can be very dangerous and leave you stranded. Been there, done that years ago.

 

I had a buddy that happened too, 2 month old decked out dodge ram, dropped his insurance the week before, when the u-joint snapped the drive shaft dropped and caught the pavement. He flipped the truck, Totaled it, Now he's got a $45,000 parts truck. (That Sucks)

 

Classic sign of dry U Joint. Have them both replaced. Should do it.

 

Those can be a witch to replace. Some years back, I shattered my el cheapo Harbor Freight vice while trying to pound out my '99 F150 rear U joint. Had to throw the whole drive shaft into my wife's van, drive it over to my in-law's shop, heat it up with a torch and use a 50 year old american vice to pound it out there.

Good news...replaced the joint and got a new, free vice from Harbor Freight...which I won't be using to change U joints in the future.

 

Is it possible a bird is stuck under there? Jk u-joints need servicing

 

Last time I did that, the drive shaft became unbalanced and I was replacing U Joints every 6 months until I got a new shaft. Better to take it to a shop and have them professionaly pressed out and back in.

 

I also have a chirping then a fast ticking as accelerating, like as pressure increases so does the clicking, it's around driveshaft area under my f250 jus stated last week, my question is how much does that run replacing ujoint, should I do myself or pay for the labor,