bad universal joint(s)?
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2006
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bad universal joint(s)?
I have a 1995 F-150 2WD 4.9 litre truck. Runs super good, but lately I have been hearing a tiny bit of clicking noises when I put the car into gear (automatic trans). When I drive, I am hearing a slight noise as if something may be coming undone.
My friend told me he thinks the trouble is that the universal joint (or joints) are going bad. What is the best way to find this out? The truck runs super on the highway, and there is no indication of transmission or differential problems. But also, I don't want to have thing break off either when I'm at full speed with semis all around me (I live in Columbus, Ohio where traffic is constant). Will I know when the joints are about to break? What is the best way to diagnose bad universal joints? Will I have to disassemble the drive shaft from the tranny to find out?
Also, is this an easy repair? I see no indication why it shouldn't be. The star bolds seem to be easy to remove, but I don't have a star wrench.
Thanks!
My friend told me he thinks the trouble is that the universal joint (or joints) are going bad. What is the best way to find this out? The truck runs super on the highway, and there is no indication of transmission or differential problems. But also, I don't want to have thing break off either when I'm at full speed with semis all around me (I live in Columbus, Ohio where traffic is constant). Will I know when the joints are about to break? What is the best way to diagnose bad universal joints? Will I have to disassemble the drive shaft from the tranny to find out?
Also, is this an easy repair? I see no indication why it shouldn't be. The star bolds seem to be easy to remove, but I don't have a star wrench.
Thanks!
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,279
Likes: 1
From: savannah,ga
best way to check them is unbolt from rearend
and move them around to feel for looseness or roughness
in the rollers.
when you pull it out of the trans be prepared for a small amount
of oil to leak out of the trans
about the star bolts, do you mean torx bolts or 12 point bolts
12 point bolts just need a 12 point socket
and move them around to feel for looseness or roughness
in the rollers.
when you pull it out of the trans be prepared for a small amount
of oil to leak out of the trans
about the star bolts, do you mean torx bolts or 12 point bolts
12 point bolts just need a 12 point socket
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,358
Likes: 3
From: Nebraska
Those 12 point bolts a lot of times are TIGHT, so be prepared. An easier way than removing the driveshaft is to put the truck in neutral (parking brake set, wheels blocked, whatever) and crawl underneath and check for play in each u joint. This won't tell you if one has a tight spot, but more often than not they get loose when they go bad.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 151
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what I know so far....
Hello: Steve here. I want to point out that the truck is running great, both in the city and on the highway, but that clicking (grinding) that I am getting is worrying me. It only seems to make that noise on initial gear shifting when I put it in drive or reverse. Doesn't seem go grind after that. Could it be a problem with the transmission (God forbid!), or is this probably something minor that won't cause me pain and anguish, especially as it relates to money. I am sure that I can repair the U joints if that is the case, but I don't need transmission problems. As stated before, the truck seems to run well. Knock on wood. Steve
