Possible U-joint Issues

peepduke · November 29, 2009

I'm told I may have U-Joint issues but I'm a little skeptikal. I hear a noise almost every time my truck is in reverse that sounds like an old matress or bed frame (sorry no other way to describe it). I also hear like a skreeching noise almost like bad breaks when I'm on the highway and it has now become more common when driving around town. I know it's not the breaks because they were just done and the noise only occurs when I'm accelerating and it will stop when I let my foot off of the gas pedal. Like i said, I don't think that it my U-Joints. Anything anyone??

My truck is a 03 GMC Sierra 1500 4wd ext. cab

minibike132 · November 29, 2009

Sounds exactly like u-joints. They dry out and start binding, usually that will show up first as a slow speed squeek in reverse for some reason. Mark the location of the shaft relative to the pinion. Block the tires, take an 11mm wrench and remove the bolts from the caps at the pinion. Use a pry bar to separate the joint being careful to not drop a cap, the needles will go all over and you will need a new joint regaurdless of condition. Then rotate the joint, a good one will be smoothe, my bet is you will feel some binding.

zmanky · December 7, 2009

May also be the carrier bearing, the rubber mount wears and allows the lip of the shaft to rub and it can make a terrible loud sqeak/squeel, mine sounded like the brakes were grinding/rubbing, I replaced brakes and still had noise., especally after a 50 or 60 miles ride on the xway.

Just a thought.

2001 1500.