Jim Shepard Posted December 1, 2007 Report Share Posted December 1, 2007 Ok, today I started hearing a new sound coming from the drive line. Some guy in the Home Depot parking lot heard it too and said it was my u-joints. It sounds like someone rapping on a cast iron sewer pipe. It doesn't do it all the time. Sometimes when I shift up into second; sometimes when I turn real slow (like in a parking lot). When I crawl under my truck tomorrow, what am I looking for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunder II Posted December 1, 2007 Report Share Posted December 1, 2007 Grab the driveshaft, and turn it back & forth. See if there is any slop at the u-joints. Then, push & pull, up & down and back & forth at the u-joints, and check for slop. Do the same checks, at the support bearing, if you have one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grey beard Posted December 1, 2007 Report Share Posted December 1, 2007 If you must replace u-joints, please be sure the ones you use have grease zerks. Those "sealed-for-life" seals don't make the cut, IMHO. Every joint I ever replaced in my life was dry when I took it apart. Guess I'm really showing my age, cause I feel the same about lawn mower deck spindles, too. Go figure . . . . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Shepard Posted December 1, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2007 Thanks. I knida figured it was something like push, pull, jerk, twist, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Gengo Posted December 1, 2007 Report Share Posted December 1, 2007 Look at the caps. When they start to go bad and dry up you will see rust all around the caps. When all the needle bearing turn to dust, that is when they will be loose and banging around. After that, driveshaft falls out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Coatney Posted December 2, 2007 Report Share Posted December 2, 2007 When I owned my first P-15 in 1964 my car developed a squealing niose when driving espically going around corners with a couple of guys in the back seat. I suspected U-joint problems but what I found was a broken rear spring allowing the driveshaft to rub the tunnel. You might want to take a look at your rear springs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Shepard Posted December 3, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 3, 2007 OK, here's the latest. I just crawled under the truck, which is a B2B with 3-speed and fluid drive. I do not see any obvious issues with the u-joints. They're all dry and tight. The drive line doesn't have any play in it, in terms of side to side or up and down pressure; however, when I turn it, there seems to be some 'slop' in the differential. By that I mean when I turn the drive line by hand it moves about one-half inch before it engages and the axles turn. Also, if I grab the drive line and turn it vigorously alternating in both directions, I get the same noise I'm hearing when I drive it. It sounds like the gears in the differential are clanging together. I've never turned the drive line by hand before so I don't know if this is a new condition or if it's always been like that. It does seem to duplicate the sound I'm hearing. Whadda you guys think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunder II Posted December 3, 2007 Report Share Posted December 3, 2007 With all the years, and all the gears, (Hey! That rhymes) there will ba a BIT of slop in there. ALL of my trucks, have a bit of slop in the driveline. If you're hearing noises, something isnt right. Older vehicle, will make a bit more noise. Straight cut gears, as compared to the "slanted" cut gears. But a "noise"? There is probably a problem in there. But even with all of the good people here, and their expertise.... Pause for affect. This is kinda' like doing, mail order brain surgery. you might need to take it to a driveline shop, and get their opinion. I hope that the diff, is full of oil, and that the spider gears aren't shot. As my truck is a B-2G, I'm not familiar with the smaller trucks. Can you pull the diff cover, and take a look inside? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Job~Rated Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 From what you're saying, it sounds like a dry diff - get some oil in there, buddy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Shepard Posted December 6, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2007 Thanks, Job-Rated. That seems to be it. Lubed the drive line and topped off both the tranny and diff. Both were way down. I used almost a whole gal. on both In fact, the diff never did fill to the hole before I ran out of gear oil. Bought some more today and I'll top off the diff in the next day or two. In the mean time, I took it out for a 20 mile run and it didn't make any noise and shifted much smoother. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reg Evans Posted December 6, 2007 Report Share Posted December 6, 2007 Hey...this is weird. I suggested that you lube your joints and top off your trans and diff but my post is gone now. Glad that was all it was Jim. Oh...never mind. I had posted on the car side. Just a touch of dementia. Nothing serious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
48Dodger Posted December 7, 2007 Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 Nice to hear a happy ending. It just proves what my Auto Guru told me time and time again....."do the tune-up first before replacing the big parts" So Jim....how's the speed? Cruisin' better? Repacking the wheel bearings might get you that 60 mph you been looking for. lol 48D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.