U-Joint went out. They must be made of Gold!!!

[yogibear]

U-Joint went out on my 03 yesterday, the one right behind the center carrier. Scared h$!! out of me, thought it was rear end at first. It didn't come apart, was just about tho.

Dodges list price is $119. 00, cost me $101. 15. No parts store could kick the #(5102157-AB), and none had a listing of the 03 part #, their list only goes to 2002. Dlr's labor is 46. 00 per hr. , which is real reasonable, total bill was $148. 35. I want to carry an extra one with me, but can't find one. If someone finds one, let me know.



Larry

 

[Hunter1]

No warranty on that item?



Hunter1

 

[yogibear]

Not with 104922 miles. Its only covered 7/70, unless you have extended, and that doesn't go beyond 100K.



Larry

 

[TBrennan]

Certainly should be covered I would think.



On edit: Nevermind!!! Do you live in this truck or what? :-laf :-laf

 

[yogibear]

No, not really, I only pull 61/2 to 7mo. out of the yr. , in the summer I'm farming, living in a Versatile, Zetor or a Gleaner.



Larry

 

[DocDetonancour]

Yogi, in that many miles what have you seen for breakdowns and what is the mpg history? Thanks, Doc

 

[yogibear]

This was my most major breakdown. The first trip I made, a steel hyd. line from PS to brake booster cracked on me, happenned on weekend, had to stop every 200 miles and fill PS to get home. Coming back from Houston last Tue. , empty, avg. was 20. 2, had cruise set on 69 mph, about 1950 rpm,usually get 18 to 21 running empty. Towing, the worst I've gotten is 8. 6, towing 40' 5er, and 30mph side wind, usually get 9. 8 to 14mpg. , depending on size of trl. and conditions, and how fast I drive. I get best mileage about 1900-2000 rpm, but it runs and pulls best at 2000-2200, if I can keep it there, she can pull some pretty good grades without dropping a gear. Its been a real good truck, I really enjoy driving it. I've had no problems with wind noise, vibrations and such. The rack and pinion steering is great, but you guys with 4wd don't get to enjoy that.



Larry

 

[Firewalker]

Forget the dealer for the u-joint,

Go to your local custom drive shaft house.



Measure up the u-joint, and they will cross refrence one probley in stock... .

I had one bad u-joint in the front drive shaft, the dealer replaced the complete drive shaft because the u-joint was on back order.

 

[Peter Campbell]

Must be one of those "sealed for life" components- a self fullfilling prophesy ( -5 sp)

 

[Rman]

100k out of a ujoint being abused pulling isn't that bad. I change them twice a year on my landcruiser. I used sealed ujoint by the way... much stronger then zirk fitted ones... and they last longer believe it or not.

 

[Matt42]

Huh?

Originally posted by rhickman

100k out of a ujoint being abused pulling isn't that bad. I change them twice a year on my landcruiser. I used sealed ujoint by the way... much stronger then zirk fitted ones... and they last longer believe it or not.

Not maning to be a smart aleck (really), but if the "stronger" sealed U joints only last 6 months, do the zerk type only last three months?



Reminds me of the front U joint and trans mount on a Falcon, but I digress.

 

[CLAYTON]

Originally posted by yogibear

Not with 104922 miles. Its only covered 7/70, unless you have extended, and that doesn't go beyond 100K.



Larry

That's a lot of miles on a 03. . that equates to 2,017. 73 miles a week.

 

[Firewalker]

Ya I am also weighting on a u-joint rear one on the rear driv shaft 2003 3500 short bed single rear wheel.



Anyway, dealer called aroound and found three dealers that have one in stock but will not do a trade or let the part go to another dealer.



What BS is this??????



So i am going to have to weight untill tuesday 4 more days in the shop for a piditily u-joint!!!!!!!!!!



I rember my last dodge a 1985 you could get parts anywhere even in the middle of the U. P. Michigan out in the boonies.



ken

 

[jcfarms]

dealer replaced u-joint

I ran 800 mile round trip last weekend. On Tuesday a vibration started and luckily I was scheduled at dealer for Wednesday for alternator bracket replacement. Warranty covered it.

 

[Blakers]

Has anyone found an aftermarket replace joint for these yet? What is so different about these joints that make them hard to find?



Thanks.

 

[bpenrod]

There is another thread where someone lists an aftermarket joint on the SRW. Might be the same for both, not sure.

https://www.turbodieselregistry.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=86223

 

[redram]

Had the same problem on my 96 3500 - only the carrier bearing failed. Dealer only part..... unless you go to a drive shaft shop.



Even then, the engineers at Dodge chose not to use a 'standard readily available part from a supplier, but had to modify it slightly so that it became a "dealer only" type part.



Same thing with the oil sending unit. Couldn't just use a standard Echlin part, it had to be a custom Dodge part which required a special socket.



That DC for you. Seems like they are still using the same design criteria.



Cheers,