anyone replaced the rear u-joints on their X? i have an 01 and sometimes i get a clunking sound fom the rear end on take off. especially when turning sharply. i ordered 3 u-joints for the drive shaft today. just wondering what the best practice replacement was or if there were any special procedures to know of. any help would be greatly appreciated. thanks!!!!!

 

I have replaced a few u-joints in my short career, but I would suggest that before replacing them you pull the cover off the diff. Have you crawled under and looked at the joints?

 

yes i have looked at the joints. And although they just looked old, they are the original joints and my X has 163,xxx on the clock. i have not heard of many rear ends going bad on these and just checked the rear end doping not long ago and it was clean and smelled fine. what do ya think? how do i get the old joint out? 2 sides should be easy as it will have a screw/bolt on cover, but how do i get them out of the sides that are "closed loop", if you will i have replaced a couple u-joints, but it has been many many years ago.

 

Repeat after me "Damn honey looks like I have to go and buy more tools, I think I need a bearing press to get these u-joints out so the X will be safe for you to drive!"

Or take the drive line to the place were you bought the u-joints and ask them to press the old ones off and the new ones in.
I took the first option myself 12 ton press comes in handy!!!

 

Are you sure where the 'clunk' is coming from? The driveshaft splines have a TSB on 'em for getting dry. It causes a 'clunk' when starting out.

Take Care

 

not for sure where the clunk is coming from, but i will throw some bearing grease on it before putting it back in when i chang ethe joints. Thanks!!!!

 

A hammer and a vise will work just fine if you don't have a press. Remove the snap rings, it should have either inner or outer snap rings. Lay the joint across the top of the open vise so that one cap is on each jaw of the vise. You can hit the drive shaft with the hammer and drive the cap out, be careful not to dent the shaft as it may cause a vibration. Flip the joint 180 and repeat on the other side. Once you have those out you can drive out the other two caps using the same procedure. Take some emery cloth and clean the area where the caps sit, also clean the snap ring groove if you have outer snap rings. When you put the joint back together, use the vise as a press. Remove the caps and put the joint in place. Install one cap and use the vise to press into place, back the vise off and repeat the process on the other cap. Make sure that you do not lose any needles and that the joint stays aligned, take your time and check the joint for movement as you go. Once the second cap is pressed about half way in, slide the joint toward the second cap and make sure it is aligned and rotates. Leave the joint so that it is partially in each cap as you press the second cap in the rest of the way. If you are successful, then repeat on the other half of the joint. Placing the new snap rings might be tight because of rust and corrosion. Make sure that you can move the joint once you are done, if it is really tight and you have a hard time moving the joint then it is to tight and will cause premature failure, this is more of an issue with outer snap rings. If it is to tight you will have to seperate the caps a little, much the same way you did to take it apart. Leave the snap rings in place and drive the caps away form each other. I have used this process many times and have not had a problem. We have a special tool at work that is for replacing ujoints and I will not use it. I was putting a joint back together and blew one of the cap ends apart with it. I hope this isn't too confusing. One last thing, you will need to mark the yokes for the middle joint so that it goes back together the exact same way. Todays shafts are balanced as an assembly and if you don't put it back right, then you will have a vibration.

 

I get the same clunk on my 2000 X V10. It happens when I take off and stop. But never when it shifts gears or when I turn. It is def comming from the back of the truck. I was suspecting my U joints or the rear diff? Any ideas on checking the differential for signs of problems please let me know.

Thanks!

 

i changed both rear shaft u-joints and re-greased the spline of the driveshaft and the dreaded clunk is gone!!! yhaoooo!!! thanks for all of the instructions!! It all started coming back to me when i started. Thanks again everyone!!

 

If you need more practice I have one you can do. They aren't bad yet,, but I dont need the practice. Jim

 

hey, bring it on by, what are friends for!! new u-joints and a 12 pack go hand in hand!! LOL

 

I'm curious if anyone else might know what the clunk is when starting/ stopping. My Ex does this as well. Come to a complete stop and it clunks like the rear brakes are grabbing; when you start off you get the same clunk.

I had assumed the parking brake was stuck but both wheels spin freely. I can also rotate my driveshaft without slop.

 

I do have some slop in the D-shaft on mine, but doesnt appear to be the
U-joints. Only way to tell for sure is to replace them is what I've been told.

 

Check for post on lubing the splines on the yoke.

 

I get a clunk only when I tap the gas. But Ihave had this noice since day one. One day when I move up in gears I will look at it more seriously. My truck will also hit 2nd gear hard all the time. No clunk but if you are on it and 2nd hits you know it becuase the truck takes off much better then some of my buddies X's. Clunk, Clank, clink are all ok until you hear nothing except the motor runing and your not moving . LOL