My truck has a vibration that starts at about 65 mph and goes through 70 mph. I don't feel it much above 70. I feel the vibration in the steering wheel and the seat. a little i n the floorboard. I had the tires balanced and rotated yesterday but the vibration still persists. Balancing and rotating the tires did not produce any change in the vibration problem. I have been trying to figure out what is causing it and today I checked my u-joints. The u-joints at the differential and middle of the drive shaft are OK. The u-joint at the transmission tail piece looks like it is leaking grease at one of the caps. There is a line of grease directly above the u-joint where it slung grease up on to the bottom side of the bed. All 3 u-joints have cracks in the plastic seals around the caps too. I guess that in itself is reason enough to replace the u-joints.

Here are some pics. This one is the cap that is leaking grease and slung it up on the bottom of the bed:

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Another pic of the grease line on the bed:

P1010090.jpg

Another pic of leaking grease:

P1010095.jpg

A crack in one of the cap seals on one of the other u-joints:

P1010097.jpg

Leaking grease:

P1010093.jpg

What do you guys here think? Is this a bad u-joint? I believe the leaking u-joint is the source of the vibration problem. I have been hearing a clunk noise when I shift into reverse and every so often I will hear the same noise when shifting gears at slower speeds like from first to second or second to third. The noise has been there for a long time, so I always thought it was just a normal manual tranny noise but here lately the noise has gotten louder, especially when I put the truck in reverse.

I have never replaced a u-joint before but I know I can do it with help here, other internet forums and my service manuals. Thanks for your info and help on this.

Jimmy

 

You bet if not bad now it will be I would say thats part of your problem

You can see it has sprayed oil on the under side of your truck.

Been a long time for me they can be a pain and yours are rusted up good

Best is to do them all at one time also

 

I also suggest getting the shaft balanced with all that rust on it the balance could be out

 

If It where me I would go ahead and replace it. Even if it's not the source of the vibration it still would give me a clear head knowing I replaced it. Also, if you do replace it and the vibration is still there, I would check the drive shaft itself to see if it's balanced correctly. I had a similar issue last year and it turn out to be that the factory balancing plates had worn away. So a mechanics shop that specialized in that area was able to re-balance it for me.

 

Maybe look for a junkyard aluminum replacement I know some of the Dakotas had aluminum shafts

aluminum rust gone

I want to replace my 5 foot steal shaft with an aluminum one and free up some turning weight my 2.5 engine could use all the help it can get.

 

Thanks for the help. I am looking online at parts. Looks like the only good one that is a sealed u-joint is from either Auto Zone or Advance. Auto Zone has their Duralast Gold for about $15.00 or I could buy a brand I never heard of at Advance, it is called Brute Force, It is the same price but I could use an online discount and save $10.00 and get all 3 for $35.00. I believe both brands are made in the USA. I want to go with a sealed part because I worry that a greaseable u-joint would be weaker.

Jimmy

 

If you can get greaseable go with them. They are just as strong and will last longer if you maintain them. If you don't wanna be bothered with greasing them then go sealed. MOOG is a very good brand.

 

Yea, greasable joints will last a long time. I'll tell you about my recent change. I noticed pretty violent shaking in the steering wheel...and I checked the shaft...good amount of play in the rear joint, so I take it apart...and this is what I find (attached). 3 of the 4 were in pretty decent shape...bearing still in place...plenty of grease. The 4th one...literally nothing but rust powder came out. No bearings whatsoever.

 

I think my joints are due soon everything on my Dakota that was a sealed unit has dried out so I bet they are dry or almost dry my Hubs are due also.

replace replace replace so it goes with old autos

 

Thanks for the info on this. I am lucky because I work here at home, so it's not like I need to fix the truck right away. My wife and I both work 8 to 5, Monday thru Friday so I can drive my her car if I need to go anywhere. I will work on it at night after work and I should be able to take my time and get it fixed during this coming week. I am not driving the truck again until I get the u-joints replaced.

Jimmy