Swapping out the factory spicer ujoints the have 300,000 miles on them. They were actually in good condition.

 

That's great. Mine in the drive shaft seized up with rust at 150k and caused a vibration when the tires were replaced. Ended up getting the correct front Spicer but the shop sent the wrong rear one so it has a Precision grease-able back there for now. hmmm.

What part numbers did you use? I curious if they cross to my 4x4 shaft.

And side note: good thing you don't have 4x4 because the front u-joints only last 4-5 years. And that's using stockers which are the best. I'm on my fourth set with a fifth in boxes ready to go.

 

I used Moog 254" s. Super strength 1330 style.

 

You can go on spicers web site and look up what joints you need.

http://www2.dana.com/expertforms/dek350.aspx

 

Someone forgot to mention this to mine... 18yrs and 350 miles short of 200k, and I'm still on the original factory UJ's.

 

Someone forgot to bend your yokes during a joint replacement.

 

Yep, that has to be it. My driveshafts are bent from the factory. I got lucky with ball joints though as everyone else has replaced theirs, mine are still stock at 205k. Win some, lose some.

 

Coming up on 200k, and still on all original steering/suspension joints, I'm sure something is close to needing a replacement.

 

If your drive line geometry is correct, your drive shaft/shafts are true and properly balanced, your yokes are true, undamaged, and without excessive runout, and you install a good quality U-joint correctly, that U-joint goes more than 100,000 miles unless you environmentally challenge it. That's just how it works.

It might be a problem if one's view of a correct installation is limited to what's in the factory service manual, though. That can leave ya with bad results even if all of your parts are in spec. The stuff they left out is important.

 

What did they leave out?