Need some advice, front axle ujoint going out
Legend
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 8,098
Likes: 318
My 96 had a pretty healthy appetite for the front joint in the front shaft. Think I went thru three of 'em in 7 years of driving. (less than 40K miles, I don't go too many places. 
) Even good joints didn't seem to last long..... I ended up rebuilding the entire shaft the last year I was driving it. All new joints end to end. That seemed to have solved the issue. 
) Even good joints didn't seem to last long..... I ended up rebuilding the entire shaft the last year I was driving it. All new joints end to end. That seemed to have solved the issue. 
Record Breaker
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,429
Likes: 192
From: United States
Unless you KNOW you're gonna be HARD CORE DEADLY SERIOUS about pumping zerks every 3000 miles, don't think you're clever using greaseable u-joints anywhere. I fully agree with this video, get a non-greaseable and you get a better product:
Grand Champion
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 7,435
Likes: 578
Notice he said "spicer" but not witch ones he is showing you! Spicer has different kinds of joints. I have two sets of the spicer life series(same exact joint) but one set was sent by mistake(non greasable). I also got the correct ones i ordered(greasable) They are exactly the same but one has the zerk fitting and one does not. This guy is full of 
the needle bearings are the same. The one he shows you with the multi lip seal may be a life series but i can't tell. If you want good joints get the life(SPL) series. You guys with dana 44's i don't believe they make them for that axle but i could be wrong(wheel u joint). I told this story before but i'll tell it again. I made the mistake of getting precision u joints when i first got my truck(20 years ago). Well they failed about a year and a half later(all the grease flew out of them). Then i installed the spicer life's, They have been in there ever since with no issues. Yes this is my daily driver(2500).
https://www.danaaftermarket.com/sear...0&ymmType=AUTO
the needle bearings are the same. The one he shows you with the multi lip seal may be a life series but i can't tell. If you want good joints get the life(SPL) series. You guys with dana 44's i don't believe they make them for that axle but i could be wrong(wheel u joint). I told this story before but i'll tell it again. I made the mistake of getting precision u joints when i first got my truck(20 years ago). Well they failed about a year and a half later(all the grease flew out of them). Then i installed the spicer life's, They have been in there ever since with no issues. Yes this is my daily driver(2500).https://www.danaaftermarket.com/sear...0&ymmType=AUTO
Legend
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 8,098
Likes: 318
My 96 had a pretty healthy appetite for the front joint in the front shaft. Think I went thru three of 'em in 7 years of driving. (less than 40K miles, I don't go too many places. ) Even good joints didn't seem to last long..... I ended up rebuilding the entire shaft the last year I was driving it. All new joints end to end. That seemed to have solved the issue.
) Even good joints didn't seem to last long..... I ended up rebuilding the entire shaft the last year I was driving it. All new joints end to end. That seemed to have solved the issue. Notice he said "spicer" but not witch ones he is showing you! Spicer has different kinds of joints. I have two sets of the spicer life series(same exact joint) but one set was sent by mistake(non greasable). I also got the correct ones i ordered(greasable) They are exactly the same but one has the zerk fitting and one does not. This guy is full of the needle bearings are the same. The one he shows you with the multi lip seal may be a life series but i can't tell. If you want good joints get the life(SPL) series. You guys with dana 44's i don't believe they make them for that axle but i could be wrong(wheel u joint). I told this story before but i'll tell it again. I made the mistake of getting precision u joints when i first got my truck(20 years ago). Well they failed about a year and a half later(all the grease flew out of them). Then i installed the spicer life's, They have been in there ever since with no issues. Yes this is my daily driver(2500).
https://www.danaaftermarket.com/sear...0&ymmType=AUTO
the needle bearings are the same. The one he shows you with the multi lip seal may be a life series but i can't tell. If you want good joints get the life(SPL) series. You guys with dana 44's i don't believe they make them for that axle but i could be wrong(wheel u joint). I told this story before but i'll tell it again. I made the mistake of getting precision u joints when i first got my truck(20 years ago). Well they failed about a year and a half later(all the grease flew out of them). Then i installed the spicer life's, They have been in there ever since with no issues. Yes this is my daily driver(2500).https://www.danaaftermarket.com/sear...0&ymmType=AUTO
Record Breaker
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,362
Likes: 35
From: Wisconsin
Yes, my thinking. I kinda hope it is because it is MUCH easier to take it out and rebuild than the axle. No noise in 2wd at all, very smooth.
I have all of the parts ordered for the drivers side because I figure that as old as this truck is, even if it is not the culprit, new parts never hurt anything either.
I have all of the parts ordered for the drivers side because I figure that as old as this truck is, even if it is not the culprit, new parts never hurt anything either.
Record Breaker
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,362
Likes: 35
From: Wisconsin
Yes, complete new axle shaft. If it had lock out hubs, I only would've needed a u-joint. It destroyed the yokes driving it the rest of the way home. Maybe 3 miles. Cheaper than a wrecker though.
Legend
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 8,098
Likes: 318
True but I always hated luck out hubs
Grand Champion
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 7,435
Likes: 578
Spicer had a website that showed you what ujoints went where and the part # but I can't find it for our trucks do you have?
http://www2.dana.com/expertforms/dek350.aspx
Thread Starter
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Registered User
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 18
Likes: 2
Regardless, I am going to rebuild the driveshaft too as soon as this crappy weather is over!
Legend
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 8,098
Likes: 318
It's no longer in operation, Why they closed it makes no scene. The new site is a maze to find what you are looking for.
http://www2.dana.com/expertforms/dek350.aspx
http://www2.dana.com/expertforms/dek350.aspx