Help! Shudder in second gear...

[Barry]

I have developed a shudder in 1st and second gear. Here is the kicker. It occurs only between 7 and 13 mph. Even if the truck is rolling in neutral. I know it sounds like U joints. I have checked those.



Coming home tonight with a 32' Teton 5th wheel. I changed my takeoff to reduce the shudder... ... ... ... I would wind 1st out to about 3000 and shift to second, then gently accelerate out of the shudder.



Once you get past the 13 mph and shift to 3rd, it is smooth as silk.



I am suppose to leave early in the morning for Harrison, Arkansas to deliver this Teton to one of my dealers. I think I will crawl back under the truck in the morning and look everything over again.



Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[NIsaacs]

It is probably one of the u-joints, usually the rear one. They can be bad without feeling any slack in them. Usually they are most noticeable when loaded as the weight will change your drive line angle and force the u-joint to operate on a slightly different part of the bearing surface causing it to bind and vibrate.



I say the rear most one because it is subject more to water contamination and also gets the most movement, however it can be anyone of them.



When I replace them, I prefer the non-grease type. They are stronger and the seals last longer. Greasing them damage the seals and now water gets in causing early failure.



Nick

 

[Barry]

Thanx,



It has been coming on for quite awhile. And you are right, when I get under a trailer and place the weight on the truck, it gets worse.



I guess the thing to do is drop the drive line and check it out.



Whadiyathink?

 

[NIsaacs]

If you have a schedule for delivery on the Camper Trailer, I would go ahead and take it. If the u-joint is bad with no slack, it will last the trip no problem.



However if you can feel some slack now or if one is available close by, you might want to change it or them. They are easy to change and you will feel more comfortable.



Nick

 

[Barry]

Thanx Mr. Issacs,



It is the center U joint. Slack and I can see signs of that tell tale gray/black chafing residue around the cups. Its time.



However, seeking wise counsel, at 155,000 miles and towing all the time, while the shaft is out should I just change all 3????????????





A wise old man in Central Texas told me one time: "If it has tits or tires on it, sooner or later, its gonna give you trouble". I have never forgotten his advice.

 

[NIsaacs]

Lol, yes and you don't want to suck on the hind one and have a Chevy or Ford rescue you!



Yes, change them all and check your center bearing and rubber support. Also, if your slip yoke does not have a master spline, make sure you line up the u-joints on re-assembly.



One other thing, when you buy the joints, pop off one of the caps and check the size of the needle bearings, the smaller they are the better the quality.



Nick

 

[SRadke]

Definitely u joints. Make a 10 mile highway speed drive then crawl under and feel them, bad ones will be very warm, possibly hot. At 150k, I'd replace them all.

-Scott

 

[Barry]

Thanx for all the help... ... ... ...



One more question. Who has the best after market U-Joints for my truck that are available tomorrow morning? I really don't want to have Kung Fu parts installed on my truck.



It appears Advance Auto Parts is about half the price of NAPA. I would like to not have to bother with U-Joints for another 150K.

 

[Barry]

Guess I am not going to worry about who has the best U-Joints for the money.



The question is... ... ... . who has them? Shopped for 2 hours this morning. Finally found 2 30 miles away at a NAPA store.



The DC dealer did not even have them. But if he did have them, they are $136 each. NAPA is $29... ... ... ... ... ... . each.

 

[Barry]

Center U Joint was bad. Replaced all 3.



I am amazed how smooth the rig is now. Ashamed of myself for not realizing sooner there was a problem developing.



Just did a Florida, Oklahoma, Arkansas, turn around loaded both ways and smooth as apple butter.





I am beginning to understand all too well the term "Senior Moment".

 

[BFoughty]

Mine did as you discribed a few months ago. I looked under the truck I bet 10 times. I even changed out the carrier bearing and still did not find it. It turned out to be the middle like yours. It was by luck that I saw it. someone else was moving the drive shaft and I was in a position to see it move.

 

[KMyrick]

Barry:



Are there any schematics out there that I could look at to see what these U-Joints look like, and how they are replaced?



Thanks,



Kyle

 

[SRadke]

These joints are not the easiest u-joints to replace. If you've never done one before, probably best to have someone do it for you.

 

[KMyrick]

Probably good advice... Thanks Pard.

 

[Barry]

With regard to labor to replace the u-joints, the "book" calls for 2. 2 hours to replace all of them.



The guy at the shop said he would do it for 2. 0... ... ... ... ... . $150 bucks. 4 hours later with two and three guys watching/helping... ... ... ... it was done.



By the time they were done(very experienced shop) and after all the cussing and swearing, I had to pray over my truck for 5 minutes just so I could drive it home.



It's a job!!



The good side of this story is it is now once again smooth as apple butter.

 

[ColoradoKing]

Barry, great thread - very helpful. Am wondering if you know if that's the first U-joint change on your truck, and/or what mileage was on the odometer when you changed them out? Thanks.

 

[Barry]

It is in fact the first U-Joint replacement on this truck. I bought it new. 155,000 miles... ... ... ... ... ... . but the shudder has been coming on for the last 20,000 miles... ... ... ... ..... I should have caught it sooner.

 

[ColoradoKing]

Awesome. That's a pretty solid achievement for U-Joints. I'm looking at 90K now, so just wondering where I sit for replacement. Thanks again for a great post.

 

[Barry]

Turned 165K this week. Got hooked up with a great horse trailer dealer that sells 700 units a year. I cannot find, buy and transport to his dealership fast enough. He sells some of them as soon as I drop them off.



While everyone else is whin'n and cry'n, he's buy'n and sell'n!! Bought and delivered 3 to him this week including one out of Richmond, Va.



Good to be home for a few days... ... ... .