Hey everybody, i'm a newby but been reading some posts for a while. I have a 99 1500 4x4 5.2 that started making a popping noise from the front end when i turn either way and i'm thinking it is the u-joint but evrything looks ok with with it, i'm still gonna change it but is it possible its something else like the wheel bearings also?

 

Don't know if this will help, but my "popping" was from the rear axle andonly when I turned left. Ended up being the limited slip and required a new unit although it was only a small clip that broke. The clip could have cost only $5 at the most, but couldn't be purchased by itself.
Crazy to have to buy a $650 part just for a $5 clip.

Hope you figure it out.

 

wow what a deal there! this is definately coming from the front end of the truck tho and the mechanic at mywork thought the same thing i was thinking. how long of a job is it to replace the u-joint? I might just pay him to do it for me

 

I've yet to require any u joints so maybe someone else can chime in on this. I have heard front end parts on these 4x4 can get quite pricey.

Good luck!!

 

I have a '94 and replaced the driver's side u-joint a few years ago. The stock ones are sealed bearing and can't be greased. The new spider was only about $10 or so.

From memory, the wheel, brake rotor and caliper need to come off, not too difficult. Three bolts hold the carrier bearing into the kingpin/upright. The bearing housing is likely fixed in the bore by some rust and may take some coaxing to get out. I used a chisel to part the 'split'. The half-shaft then slides out with the ujoint. I squeezed the spider's undcaps out with some big sockets and a large vise. Going back together was easier than getting it apart. I put some antiseaze on the bearing housing to maybe help with the next time it has to come apart.

About 2 hrs of putzing time, $10 for the spider and I have a new joint that I can now grease with all the other points up front.

Hope this helps. Look for (search function) the service manual in this forum. It should have the procedure illustated.

 

Thanks everybody, i think i could handle that

 

gp's post above has good info, but it took me a couple of brainwaves to figure out that his spider is the ujoint cross.
more.. http://www.pavementsucks.com/tech/hub.php

 

That's a great HOW TO in the kink. Excellent. I remember the big axle nut being a bitch, mainly due to me not having a socket that size. Luckily the guys next door had one to lend me.

Where did spider come from? I don't know. An old mechanic propably used that term when I was a young and impressionable.

 

I literally just got my entire front end inspected by 4wheelparts and I told them about the poping sound and they said my u joints and all that are fine and that the sound was coming from the rear, and that it was verbarating through the frame to where it sounded like it was frome the front so they inspected my diffs and that was fine to, they said they thinks its something with the brakes in the rear

Just sharing my 2 cents on what seems a common issue