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HELP!!! changed both front ujoints and it still SQUEEKS!!!

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Old Nov 8, 2010 | 02:34 PM
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Default HELP!!! changed both front ujoints and it still SQUEEKS!!!

ok so its squeeking only when i am going forward, its not the brakes they are less than 3 months old.. i changed the ujoint on the front driver side and the front passenger side. i also changed the front driver side hub assembly.. im not a mechanic so i dont know what else it could be. i dont have the money to take it to the shop so i have been learning as i go. if anyone can help it would be much appreciated
 
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Old Nov 8, 2010 | 02:39 PM
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Pull out the rear driveshaft and inspect the u joints in it.
 
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Old Nov 8, 2010 | 06:20 PM
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can you safely put it up on 4 jack stands and spin the wheels, and/or run it under power. if you can get it up in the air, have an assistant operate the truck while you crawl around and listen. be careful.

squeak from the front is usually axle u-joints which turn in both 2wd and 4wd.
front drive shaft should only turn in 4wd, if cad is hooked up correctly.
i assume you've checked brakes.
 
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Old Nov 9, 2010 | 09:12 AM
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yeah i have checked the brakes, i crawled under it last night and checked both the rear and front drive shafts and there is no play in the ujoints at all.. is it possible that i damaged one of the ujoints while i was putting it in? i never done one before and i just read through a few of the forums on here and went outside and winged it lol... is it possible that the squeal could be from the barrings in the hub assembly? i have jacked up the truck and shook the **** out of the tires and they dont budge and that is the only way i know how to check them, i had to beat on the driver side one pretty good to get it out so i went ahead and replaced it with a new one but when i was spinning it in my hand it felt like it was spinning kinda ruff, can a brand new part be bad?
 
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Old Nov 9, 2010 | 09:22 AM
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The new hub assembly should not be ruff at all. But even if it is defective, I doubt you'll have the exact same symptom. Maybe the other one is on it's way out, just not loose yet.
 
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Old Nov 9, 2010 | 09:24 AM
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Or the binding/bad bearing is a bit deeper into the axle...... have you check the fluid level?
 
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Old Nov 9, 2010 | 12:38 PM
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I am sorry guy's but I am going back to the drive shaft. Just crawling under the truck and grabbing the drive shaft and looking for play is not the way to check for bad squeaking u joints. If a u joint is just squeaking it is just starting to go and there will be no play in it, but it will squeak under load. You need to take the drive shaft out and move the u joints in all ways. Did you pack or grease all the new u joints before install and again after?

Note: the u joint should be smoooth in all directions of rotational axis, no binding, dead spots and not super tight
 

Last edited by merc225hp; Nov 9, 2010 at 12:47 PM. Reason: spelling
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Old Nov 9, 2010 | 12:54 PM
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Sorry but I missed this in the post about the unit bearing being ruff, some manufacturers use grease pellets in the hub bearings and as you drive they break down into grease. So yes it mite feel ruff when new. Check it after some driving time.
 
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