Universal-joints

Cranky1 · April 20, 2005

I have not replaced a u-joint in any vehicle in last 20 years no matter what the mileage I have racked up on it. Well today, I thought I would stand on it and let her rip, after the 1 st stop I came to, I noticed as I pulled away this anoying squeek from under neath my truck. The more I get on the throttle the deeper it gets. I have done this a little too often in the last few weeks because of the Flowmaster 50 I had installed. (43 years old going on 18)

My truck only has 35,000 miles on it and I don't drive it much in the winter, it mostly sits. The last time I had it on the highway, I was going about 80 mph and noticed this vibration that became more predominant as I went over a dip in the road, the truck was floating and as it came down it smothed out again. I attributed it to the tires from sitting around. I'm almost certain it's u-joints.

Is this common in the 2001 C-1500 SBEC to have to replace u-joints at such a premature time and mileage limit? I crawled under neath to see if I could feel any play, but nothing there. I was shocked how small of a diameter the shaft actually is. Has any one had the same problem or symptoms?

Indy · April 20, 2005

The stock u-joints are sealed units and have no grease fittings. Replace them with new ones with fittings. I did mine when the truck was about 3 years old.

Wingnut · April 20, 2005

I was shocked how small of a diameter the shaft actually is. Has any one had the same problem or symptoms?

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Really? Because mine (on the '02) is freaking HUGE.

And mine is about ready for ujoints, they're starting to squeek a bit. 70k miles though.

Cranky1 · April 21, 2005

Just an up date..

I didn't have the time to do the repair my self, so I had the u-joints installed at a friends shop. He said the middle u-joint was seized solid. He had both shafts out, so I had him replace all 3 u-joints.

I thought I would get this repair done today because tomorrow morning I am going to take my truck on a 500 mile business trip. I left my friends shop and noticed a little vibration at 30 mph, as I increased to 40 mph the vibration got worse, after 40 it smooths out again. From the time I noticed the problem, he had left for the day and now I have to rent a car for this trip.

I think he used an after market u-joints, I had no objections because I like the idea of the grease nipples as Indy said. Every thing seems tight from tranny to rear diff. Could he have installed a defective u-joint?

Indy · April 21, 2005

Just an up date..

I didn't have the time to do the repair my self, so I had the u-joints installed at a friends shop. He said the middle u-joint was seized solid. He had both shafts out, so I had him replace all 3 u-joints.

I thought I would get this repair done today because tomorrow morning I am going to take my truck on a 500 mile business trip. I left my friends shop and noticed a little vibration at 30 mph, as I increased to 40 mph the vibration got worse, after 40 it smooths out again. From the time I noticed the problem, he had left for the day and now I have to rent a car for this trip.

I think he used an after market u-joints, I had no objections because I like the idea of the grease nipples as Indy said. Every thing seems tight from tranny to rear diff. Could he have installed a defective u-joint?

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