ok i ripped both hub asemblies off tonight so i am curious since it has real easy acces now...how can i check my u-joints to see if they need to be replaced? the truck has 84,000 miles on it...also..is there a certain name for these u-joints?

 

Hold the axle and twist on either side of the u joint if theres no play its good

 

see if they have any play in them, wiggle the end of them and see if there is play in them, also if the seals are cracked, however if they havent yet been changed and your this far into it id throw new ones in there regardless itll be a lot easer now and there pritty cheep. just be vary carefull taking the axle shafts out and putting them back in that you dont scar the seal as that is a PITA to change smear a thin film of grease on the end of the shaft when your gonna put it back in

no special name other than u-joint, umm just go into your parts store tell them what truck u have and what ones you need and thell look them up for you