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Got to brag a bit on my son, who just earned a Master's Degree in Redneck Engineering with a concentration in Git 'Er Home & Git 'Er Dunn.
He was in traffic with the truck in my signature when he lost power and all sorts of racket came from the back. Turns out the universal joint that connected the drive shaft to the rear diff gave out. He pushes it into a gas station parking lot and checks it out. With the use of his on-board tools, some tin snips, and an empty aerosol can, he patches the U-joint together and gets back home.
What had happened was the U-joint bearing had given out, causing the spider to come unstowed. My son cut bits of the can to shim things back tight together and headed for home.
The left-hand U-joint in the image, next to the rear diff.
My son, one of my son's buddies, and my own self got it repaired properly today. Had to rent a ball joint press to make it happen. My C-clamps wanted nothing to do with his task. Paid ~$21.00 for the U-joint and $6 for new U-bolts, nuts, and washers at NAPA. SKF brand.
Kool he was able to get it together enough to get it home.
No one felt it vibrate when taking off from a start or it making a chirping sound?
Then again I had one fail with only a little vibration 1 time a month earlier, no noise.
When I got on the high way the vibration was so bad I had to pull over.
I was close to home so walked home got my other truck & tools, pickup parts, my dad and changed the joint out on the side of the road.
Dad took other truck & tools home and I went to work.
Work was shocked when I showed up thinking I would have been a lot later LOL
Dave ----
Kool he was able to get it together enough to get it home.
No one felt it vibrate when taking off from a start or it making a chirping sound?
Then again I had one fail with only a little vibration 1 time a month earlier, no noise.
When I got on the high way the vibration was so bad I had to pull over.
I was close to home so walked home got my other truck & tools, pickup parts, my dad and changed the joint out on the side of the road.
Dad took other truck & tools home and I went to work.
Work was shocked when I showed up thinking I would have been a lot later LOL
Dave ----
Turns out he HAD noticed a noise earlier but had neglected to mention it to me. "Tell me if you see, hear, smell, feel, or even taste something different with the vehicle," is what I tell all my immediate family members about their vehicles. Sometimes I get told something is amiss early on, other times, not so much. You'd think me getting antsy out on the road when ever I smell burned oil/clutch/trans/brake or smell ethylene glycol until I confirm it is not MY auto giving off the odor would be a hint that I take this sort of thing seriously.
Turns out he HAD noticed a noise earlier but had neglected to mention it to me. "Tell me if you see, hear, smell, feel, or even taste something different with the vehicle," is what I tell all my immediate family members about their vehicles. Sometimes I get told something is amiss early on, other times, not so much. You'd think me getting antsy out on the road when ever I smell burned oil/clutch/trans/brake or smell ethylene glycol until I confirm it is not MY auto giving off the odor would be a hint that I take this sort of thing seriously.
I kind of thought there would be a sign before it let go.
If you catch it early it may cost less. If he was diving at speed and it dropped the shaft it bangs around bending the shaft and busting up everything it hits under the truck. If it was the front joint and dropped at speed it could dig into the ground and flip the truck over!
I thought I was the only one that got antsy smelling something I should not till I know its not me
Dave ----
