Front drivers side ujoint is going out and making a clicking noise. I have the parts ordered, but my AO is having snow-mageddon and was wondering with some real world experience if I could drive on it with the clicking. Not too worried about screwing up the axleshaft since I have a new one ready to go in as soon as it gets here along with a new unit bearing (while I am doing it anyway).

Advice is appreciated.

 

What's AO?
If you're planning on replacing the axle shaft, stub shaft, and hub, then why not let it grenade?

 

Clicking isn't bad, just means it's time to change it. I would be looking for a warm place to work when your parts come in though. You don't want that feller blowin' up, and taking out other stuff as well.

 

AO = Area of Operation. Just my local area.

I would not want it to grenade itself, but was wondering what would happen if it did when I was out and about and needing 4WD. Planning on replacing this weekend so hopefully it won't let go before then.

 

Yeah, that was what I was wondering. Besides the stub shaft and driveshaft ears, what else could it take out?

 

Might trash the axle, would likely trash the seal, and the drives side seal is a pain to change..... But, if you are going to fix it this weekend, you *should* be ok.

 

yeah, would not want to take the seal with it. I come from the jeep world and know all about the inner axle seals and what a pain they can be.

 

Totally common for them to knock the knuckle off the BJ's if you're on the skinny pedal when it happens.

Otherwise if these u-joints break it can cause steering to lock up as the stub shaft ear gets shoved into the inner shaft ear when turning.

NOW, none of these scenarios are extremely likely, but possible.

The '99 I service got stuck blocking traffic in our small town 'cause she couldn't turn one direction when the joint grenaded.

 

I'll pray for ya!! I just rebuilt my entire front axle because of " THAT " seal.

 

The problem is that if it grenades, it's really hard to limp it home. The shaft is splined to the hub so it keeps spinning, even in 2wd. Lock out hubs are much better than CAD when parts break, as they allow the axle shafts to stop spinning.