Driveshaft Joint Knocking
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
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Driveshaft Joint Knocking
I just put a lift on my 88 Bronco witha 5.0L. the 4" lift is cool and all but the joint right behind the transfer case has started knockin and squeakin. so i need to replace it. are they expensive? what kind should i get? ive seen these high angle ones before... should i just lower the transmission? or what? any ideas would be great..by the way, whats the name of that joint?
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Gateway to the West
Its a double-cardon universal joint. Basically it consists of TWO "spiders" (U-joint crosses) a very short double ended link between them and a special ball/spring configuration that keeps the driveline angle constant while allowing the use of what is actually THREE U-joints in the rear shaft WITHOUT the need for a carrier bearing. ALL Broncos have them at the front of the rear driveshaft going all the way back to the original 1966 model. It afforded the very short rear driveshaft additional felxibility and allowed much greater suspension articulation without the need for additional bearings which would have been all but impossible to include in such a short driveline. This is also why the fullsisze Bronco does not require driveline modifications until the truck is suspension lifted above 6". The replacement versions are relatively inexpensive considering what they are. I have been told that you can replace them yourself but I've never actually done it so I don't know the procedure. I DO know that you don't have driveline issues with only 4" of suspension lift. The OEM components are fine under there. No need to mess with t-case drops or that sort of thing. My guess would be that the joint was headed south before the lift and now with the greater range of motion and slight change in the normal driveline angle its just decided its had enough.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Edmonton, Alberta
My 89 driveshaft is at the Driveline shop right now. It's costing close to the same to rebuild it completely as it would to buy a new one from LMC... However, as LMC is a long way from Edmonton, AB it is better for me to deal locally and I'll have it back tomorrow. Get quotes from a couple places for a new replacement and for rebuilding it, then go from there.
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thanks
thanks greystreak...ill look into it and i had thought that it might have been goin south before hte lift because the joint near the axial went bad a while back. do i need any special joints?
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Joined: Mar 2003
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i had a 4" lift on my bronco and the u-joint snapped right off real good. i replaced the whole driveshaft with a stock one from oreillys for like 175. you can get the Heavy Duty U-joints if you want and if they have a machine shop at your location they'll press em in for pretty cheap. it comes already balanced. i ran it with the joints that came in the driveshaft and didn't have any problem. always floored it at greens and off-roaded a lot.
