Question on front axle u-joints

[CookJ]

Truck has 160K on it and am still on the original u-joints. I am getting a squealing and have ruled out everything but the u-joints. Has anyone attempted to drill the factory joints and install grease fitting, or, are the bodies solid? thanks

 

[BMH95]

They are solid. I just checked the one I took out this afternoon.

 

[CookJ]

Not what I wanted to hear, thanks. james

 

[JCasper]

Mine were pretty simple to replace

 

[CookJ]

Heres the situation. . For about 3 months or better, I've been hearing a squeak/squeal coming from the driverside hub area. I've not been able to pinpoint it but feel it is either from the bearing or u-joint. When the noise comes back, I usually take a can of silicon and/or penetrating oil and spray the entire hub assembly. Usually the noise is gone immediately, or, after a few miles of driving.



Last night, I pulled the wheel to examine closer. I did not have a stethoscope so I had to rely primarily by feel/touch. My observation still points to the u-joint. However, when rotating the axle, I could not see any play/movement in the joint (this is after about 30 minutes of trouble-shooting).



Could it be that the u-joint is still in good condition but is "dry"? Oh yea, this morning, I did not have the squeak/squeal while driving to work. Chances are, it will return in a week or better.

 

[BMH95]

Since I'm stuck in the middle of this job now, I'll provide my findings with my truck. The passenger side ujoint was flopping around inside one of the caps. Upon removal and inspection, two of the caps were dry, and one was without needles. The driver's side looked fine while it was on the truck, but I could not move the joint without the aid of a mallet when I got it out. Inspection showed that two of the caps were totally dried out and frozen.



My hubs, ujoints, and ball joints are all totally shot. All I heard was a clunking coming from the front, with no squealing or binding or vibrations.

 

[Mr.Goat]

These issues seem to be standard. Mine has 112K and I'am on my third set of front U joints and about to put in my third set of ball joints.



The U joint issue is I think is due to the permanently sealed type, which are obviously wearing out quickly. I installed Precission 464 which have zerks so I can grease them.



The ball joints according to the scuttle butt on TDR are of a inferior design. There is a chap trying develop an after market replacement, but as of yet not available. I have been posponing putting mine in the hopes of getting some of these newer type, (can't be any worse than the stock ones) but I can't hold off any longer.

 

[mrsnow]

Truck has 160K on it and am still on the original u-joints. I am getting a squealing and have ruled out everything but the u-joints. Has anyone attempted to drill the factory joints and install grease fitting, or, are the bodies solid? thanks

Holy cow that sounds pretty good for the stockers! I have 104k on my rig and is now it too is on it's third set.

 

[CookJ]

Since I'm stuck in the middle of this job now, I'll provide my findings with my truck. The passenger side ujoint was flopping around inside one of the caps. Upon removal and inspection, two of the caps were dry, and one was without needles. The driver's side looked fine while it was on the truck, but I could not move the joint without the aid of a mallet when I got it out. Inspection showed that two of the caps were totally dried out and frozen.



My hubs, ujoints, and ball joints are all totally shot. All I heard was a clunking coming from the front, with no squealing or binding or vibrations.

I failed to mention earlier that I did observe some play when I had the driver-side jacked up. I pushed/pulled on the wheel and assumed it was the ball joints; guess I should have looked cause now I'm wondering if it is due to a failing wheel bearing. I will double check this evening. If it is, looks like I will be replacing all as you. Can you tell me the part #s of the hub assembly and u-joints? From what I've read, the oem hub assemblies for '03 trucks are BR930502 and the u-joints are Precision 464. Thanks and good luck with the repairs.

 

[CookJ]

Holy cow that sounds pretty good for the stockers! I have 104k on my rig and is now on it's third set.

Yea, guess I've been one of those fortunate ones till now.

 

[CookJ]

These issues seem to be standard. Mine has 112K and I'am on my third set of front U joints and about to put in my third set of ball joints.



The U joint issue is I think is due to the permanently sealed type, which are obviously wearing out quickly. I installed Precission 464 which have zerks so I can grease them.



The ball joints according to the scuttle butt on TDR are of a inferior design. There is a chap trying develop an after market replacement, but as of yet not available. I have been posponing putting mine in the hopes of getting some of these newer type, (can't be any worse than the stock ones) but I can't hold off any longer.

I sure would like to hold off with these repairs till the new ball joints are available, but, may not be able to. As I don't know the year model of your truck, I'm assuming the precisions will fit year models '03-'07?

 

[JCasper]

Heres the situation. . For about 3 months or better, I've been hearing a squeak/squeal coming from the driverside hub area. I've not been able to pinpoint it but feel it is either from the bearing or u-joint. When the noise comes back, I usually take a can of silicon and/or penetrating oil and spray the entire hub assembly. Usually the noise is gone immediately, or, after a few miles of driving.



Last night, I pulled the wheel to examine closer. I did not have a stethoscope so I had to rely primarily by feel/touch. My observation still points to the u-joint. However, when rotating the axle, I could not see any play/movement in the joint (this is after about 30 minutes of trouble-shooting).



Could it be that the u-joint is still in good condition but is "dry"? Oh yea, this morning, I did not have the squeak/squeal while driving to work. Chances are, it will return in a week or better.

Gauranteed it's your U-Joint that's bad.

 

[CookJ]

JCasper, I hope you're right. I am still questioning if the precision 464's are the correct replacement. Just got off the phone with one parts house and he indicated just yesterday a customer returned the 464 because they would not work on his '03. Why do these joints work for some and not for others? I've read somewhere that it should only be a matter of beveling the yokes should they not want to press in. Is this correct ?

 

[JCasper]

JCasper, I hope you're right. I am still questioning if the precision 464's are the correct replacement. Just got off the phone with one parts house and he indicated just yesterday a customer returned the 464 because they would not work on his '03. Why do these joints work for some and not for others? I've read somewhere that it should only be a matter of beveling the yokes should they not want to press in. Is this correct ?

Six states pressed my joints in, I just brought them the axle shafts.



They used an American axle upgrade they called it. I have heard also that the 464 doesn't fit well

 

[AGrubbs]

Front axle u-joints - greasable from DC..

Well, Just an FYI. . I had mine replaced again,earlyer this week. I had a set of aftermarket greasable ones, but they didn't last long. Took it to the dealer and they

told me that DC now has GREASEABLE ones available. Also that they were about $25-30 less than the aftermarket ones I had in. So, I had them put

the DC greaseable ones in.



You might check with your dealer and have them check with parts to see if they know of them.





Drive ON!

 

[Bob4x4]

Oo. The ball joints are in the production stage now,

#ad


you might want to get placed on the waiting list. I think the first run is going to go real quick.



Bob

 

[CookJ]

One of the parts houses I called mentioned the AA upgrade and it was cheaper than the Precisions. Since I don't have the tooling or time to install myself, guess I'll leave it up to my mechanic which ones to go with. I'll check on the DC ones too.

 

[Grieke]

New DC Ball joints

Oo. The ball joints are in the production stage now,

#ad


you might want to get placed on the waiting list. I think the first run is going to go real quick.



Bob

Hi Bob4x4,

Are those new ball joints greasable? And do you have a P/N?

Thank you so very much.

GR

 

[Bob4x4]

Yes,I hear the latest version have a zerk and are sealed with an o-ring. I don't know the part # but give the Carli shop a call and they will hook you up.

I stopped by the other day to check out some of their new projects. They are

testing some wild new Bilstein shocks as well as many other cool items for our trucks.



Bob