Did my U-Joint just go out???

SmokenMini · 02-07-2007, 07:19 PM

Guys, have any one of you had a u-joint go bad yet? I was driving my truck tonight, pulled out of a parking lot and it clunked from the rear of the truck. I instantly thought "diff just went out". But then I got to thinking that maybe its just the u-joint. It drove fine for the ride home, about 20 miles. I later took it out tonight and it started "clunking" again. I noticed that it will clunk once, somtimes twice upon take off from a dead stop...sometimes. It dosen't do it on every take off. Then, sometimes it will "clunk" when I leave off of the throttle and get back on it suddenly. Also, the Slip light is NOT on. Could it be the diff? Could it be a u-joint? It's too cold to check out now and I cant get it into my garage....the joys of being lifted.

MuskyHunter · 02-07-2007, 07:50 PM

Because it is so cold, I would think that it is your leaf springs. Try to spray some lube such as TriFlow on the leaf springs and be extra careful not to get overspray onto the brake rotors. I am guessing that the axle wrap and rusty springs from the road salt, the spring is binding and releasing giving it that pop sound.

**bbomar** · 02-07-2007, 08:03 PM

If your U-joint fell out, you have gone nowhere!! Your driveshaft would have dropped to the ground, and since your lifted more than likely would have fallen out of the tranny, and then you'd really be having issues.

What he said^^^^ or could be rear end issues. get it checked quick.

Steamguy · 02-08-2007, 01:24 PM

If it's a U-joint, you will have a 'BING!' sound or a clank every time you shift into drive or reverse WITHOUT moving. Second symptom is a 'tweeting' sound that matches the driveshaft rotation on take-off.

Throw it back and forth from R to D with your foot on the brake and without moving the truck. Does it make an unusual noise? If yes, then it's a u-joint.

**crash519** · 02-14-2007, 01:00 PM

Sounds like normal driveline play to me. Since your lifted, it's going to be more obvious. I migrated over from a GMC and the GM vehicles are terrible about driveline noise. My 2004 Z71 would clunk on every transmission shift!