Strange U-joint Problem

[mkory]

So I replaced my rear u-joint a few months ago with one from Advance Auto. It fit fine when I installed it and has given me no problems until lately. I noticed a tapping sound coming from the rear of the truck that sounds just like it did before I replaced the joint. When I crawled under it to take a look, I found that the u-joint is in good shape, and there is no movement between the joint and the caps. However, the caps are moving side to side within the differential. All caps are solid on the joint and there is no movement with the driveshaft pair of caps. The joint is good, but it's almost like the caps are too small and the c-clips are too thin. I tried tightening the strap bolts but they're already good and tight. I know everything fit perfectly when I installed it. Any ideas?

[wlvrn1215]

this may sound weird but did you put them in the right side correctly. Some have different size caps.

[2COR517]

My rear driveshaft yokes are a little worn on the Tahoe, so the caps are loose. I have never seen the caps loose on the axle pinion "flange". Maybe new straps will snug them down.

[mkory]

When you say "put them in the right side correctly" do you mean with respect to left/right sides of the differential, or differential/driveshaft sides? The caps that should be in the diff have a groove for the c-clip whereas the caps that go into the driveshaft do not. Those are matched up correctly.

[txab]

When you say "put them in the right side correctly" do you mean with respect to left/right sides of the differential, or differential/driveshaft sides? The caps that should be in the diff have a groove for the c-clip whereas the caps that go into the driveshaft do not. Those are matched up correctly.

 

Is this on the 2000 in your sig? Are you saying the caps that you are tightening the retainer straps have the c-clip groove with a clip installed? The u joint caps that you pressed into the driveshaft have no clips inside the yoke ears or in the yoke ear itself? If this is the case how are you holding the u joint in the driveshaft yoke? How was the one removed held into the yoke ears?

 

Does your u joint look like this:

 

 

 

Or like this maybe:

 

 

 

You may also need a new set of these:

 

 

[mkory]

The one I installed looks like the second one you posted. The c-clips slip into a groove in the caps and also a groove in the differential. The driveshaft side caps are held in by those other clips which secure into a groove in the shaft, and the caps cannot slide passed them.

 

I have no clue the last time straps were replaced. I've only had the truck for about 4000 miles and did not replace the straps when I replaced the u-joint. Do these stretch a lot and are they a common item to replace?

[txab]

The one I installed looks like the second one you posted. The c-clips slip into a groove in the caps and also a groove in the differential. The driveshaft side caps are held in by those other clips which secure into a groove in the shaft, and the caps cannot slide passed them.

 

I have no clue the last time straps were replaced. I've only had the truck for about 4000 miles and did not replace the straps when I replaced the u-joint. Do these stretch a lot and are they a common item to replace?

 

Not common. They sometimes need to be replaced though. My '80 truck with 190k still has the original straps.

 

Have you double checked for the correct part?

[mkory]

Thanks, txab. I suppose for the price I'll start there. I gave the driveshaft a good shaking to be sure that it's not going anywhere, but it sure is annoying.

[mkory]

New straps tightened everything up. Noise is gone. Thanks everyone!

[txab]

[RyanbabZ71]

sounds crazy but rock in the tire? I had a bad clicking noise turned out there was a rock in the lug of the rear tire.

[txab]

sounds crazy but rock in the tire? I had a bad clicking noise turned out there was a rock in the lug of the rear tire.

 

Perhaps you should actually read the thread before answering.

[RyanbabZ71]

hmmm

 

When I pulled this open it didnt show the last 2 posts to see where it was fixed. Only reason why i mentioned the rock is because it happened right after I replaced my U joints also.

 

sounds crazy but rock in the tire? I had a bad clicking noise turned out there was a rock in the lug of the rear tire.

 

Perhaps you should actually read the thread before answering.

 

[mkory]

sounds crazy but rock in the tire? I had a bad clicking noise turned out there was a rock in the lug of the rear tire.

 

 

LOL... yeah, it's fixed already. Even crazier than that was when I spun my Lexus on the highway, rolled the tire over, flat spotted the top INNER edge of the rim flange, and got rocks between the rim and the tire. As if rolling a 235/40/18 tire STRETCHED onto the rim and at 40psi wasn't amazing enough already, the tire pressure only dropped a pound or two before the bead resealed.

 

It was hard to explain to the guys at Discount Tire how the rocks got there.