u joint

[whamby]

We my first u joint is now toast at 52,500 miles. Started vibrating awful today. I am working out of town so I had to remove it in the hotel parking lot in Kansas City. That is always a pain. The needle bearing in two caps are completely gone. U joint is $56 at Dodge and won't be in until tomorrow. Anyway my question is does anyone know the torque amount for the bolts that hold the driveshaft to the rear end. They were a bear to remove with a 3/8 drive rachet. The loc tite was really holding.

 

[BillGotthelf]

I believe they are 45 lbs. Thats what I used along with the red loctite.

 

[yogibear]

Your lucky, mine cost 107. 00, list 119. 00, but it didn't go out till 104K. I couldn' cross the # either. I guese I got screwed!!



Larry

 

[whamby]

One dealer quoted me $67 and didn't have one so I called another dealer 10 miles down the road. They didn't have one either but they only wanted $56. I will put it back together tomorrow. Thanks for the replies.

 

[jungledave]

I don't understand why you should have to buy one. Isn't that covered in the 70,000 warranty? I've had my shaft out twice and the dealer ahd it out one time and didn't use locktite. All I know is I had one heck of a time with a long . 5 drive ratchet and a good sized leg to break them loose last time without locktite. The must have used an impact and not a tourque wrench. itghten as tight as you can in a parking lot and call it good and recheck them when you get hame.

 

[ThomasLawrence]

Only partially relevant, but a friend of mine with a '98 called me this evening, stuck on the side of the road. He'd been experiencing a slight vibration the past couple of days, but didn't think anything of it. Well, tonight on the highway, his driveshaft decided to twist itself out of the rear yoke. Apparently, an unsecured driveshaft gets overly excited turning 1500RPM or so



It snapped a couple of the strap retaining bolts on the yoke, thrashed the U-joint, and put a nice gouge in the side of his driveshaft. Fortunately, he had a QC LB truck with a two-piece driveshaft, and was able to remove boot holding the rear slip joint together, remove the rear half of the driveshaft, and drive home in 4WD (or, more accurately, front-wheel drive).



Moral of this story... investigate driveline vibrations. The life you save may be the poor schmuck behind you dodging a driveshaft missile.



By the way - I picked up a new U-joint and bolt kit (straps and bolts) at NAPA this evening, at a cost of just over $20. Oh, and torque for the bolts attaching the driveshaft to the rear diff flange is 85#.

 

[yogibear]

I had 104K mi. , so no warranty. First u-joint out of 3 Dodges, and 650K+ mi. total, not bad!!

 

[whamby]

right or wrong the dealer in KC told me the U joints are covered under the 36k warranty no the 70k. I said it is part of the drive train. Since he wasn't sure I would just as soon fix it myself that way I know it is right. I just wish I was at home so I had more tools. On a side note I am glad it didn't come out going down the road. Who knows what might have been torn up.

 

[Mopar_Mudder]

I had a joint replaced at 32,000 and it feels like I still have a bad one. I wonder if something is up with this? I have u-joints in my mud truck that last longer then this and they get the crap beat out of them.

 

[Crunch]

Originally posted by WHamby

We my first u joint is now toast at 52,500 miles. Started vibrating awful today. I am working out of town so I had to remove it in the hotel parking lot in Kansas City. That is always a pain.

So my TDR question to you is: Did you have and use your TDR Travel Companion and find a local in KC who could help you?

 

[whamby]

Crunch

To answer your question no I didn't. I could have looked on my laptop. At first I didn't think about. By the time I did I had already started disassembly. If the weather had been bad I bet I would have thought of it a lot sooner. If there is ever another time I will be sure to check that first as it would have been nice to have the right tools for the job. At least I was able to get a torque wrench from work so I can put it back together properly.

 

[d90boy]

WHamby:



If you need help/tools I'm in the KC area. Yes they are Snap-On.

 

[whamby]

d90boy



Thanks for the offer but I will manage this time. I saw you in the travel companion a few minutes ago. Looks like you have a little bit of everything in your shop. I am in Olathe right now. Should have the truck back together by 6:00pm after I get off of work and pick up the part. I already have the drive shaft out and the old u joint removed. So I just need to put the new one in. Shouldn't take much more than 30 minutes to get it done. I hope they ordered the right one.

 

[draymorris]

85 ft lbs is correct according to serv manual that I have. Blue loctite is good - red loctite is supposed to require heat to remove.



Good luck

 

[whamby]

I have the blue loctite. My torque wrench only goes to 80 so I guess it will get 80 plus a little if that is what it needs . That sure seems like a lot though.

 

[whamby]

yogibear after this story you won't feel ripped off anymore.



Went to dealer to get my u joint. Paid for it and took it to my truck and it was wrong . Took it back to dealer they said oh it must be this one it is the only other choice. They didn't have it but said the warehouse does and it is only about 10 miles away. This u joint was $71 instead of $56. I got to the warehouse and the u joint they give me is a little tny one. I said there is no way. . Finally the warehouse parts manager looks up the part for me and finds a third choice. They don't have it but a dealer 30 miles away does. He even goes as far as to have them measure it for me so we all know it is right . I get to the third place and pick up the correct u joint. Tax and all it was $127. 69. Holy Crap:{ Anyway now I just have to get off of work to get it installed. Boy am I glad I took off a little while to go pick up my part or else I might be stuck in KC.

 

[Mopar_Mudder]

Originally posted by WHamby

yogibear after this story you won't feel ripped off anymore.



Went to dealer to get my u joint. Paid for it and took it to my truck and it was wrong . Took it back to dealer they said oh it must be this one it is the only other choice. They didn't have it but said the warehouse does and it is only about 10 miles away. This u joint was $71 instead of $56. I got to the warehouse and the u joint they give me is a little tny one. I said there is no way. . Finally the warehouse parts manager looks up the part for me and finds a third choice. They don't have it but a dealer 30 miles away does. He even goes as far as to have them measure it for me so we all know it is right . I get to the third place and pick up the correct u joint. Tax and all it was $127. 69. Holy Crap:{ Anyway now I just have to get off of work to get it installed. Boy am I glad I took off a little while to go pick up my part or else I might be stuck in KC.

I am guessing then that the 3rd gens are not using the same 1410 series joint in the rear shaft that the 2nd gens did. Too bad, I got some of them layin around because that is what I use in front and back of my off road truck, figures... .

 

[yogibear]

I still feel ripped off WH!! The U J's for our 9680 Versatile tractor costs less than $40. 00, thats rediculious!! I didn't keep my old UJ, wished I had it, was told to take it and have it measured to see if it could be matched with another UJ. I tried 3 different parts stores, and they couldn't cross the #'s. If you get a chance, see what you can do with it. I would like to keep a couple in the trk. for emergency such as yours, but I hate to pay their price!



Larry

 

[whamby]

truck is back in running order now. Thanks to all that replied. The torque was indeed 85 ft lbs. I verified with tech before I left the dealer.



yogibear

I have my old u joint and I will take it to my local parts store this week end. Most the time they can get it if it is made. Hopefully at a much cheaper price. If they can match it I will post the brand and part #. Either way I will post to let everybody know what I find out.

 

[jungledave]

Originally posted by WHamby

right or wrong the dealer in KC told me the U joints are covered under the 36k warranty no the 70k. I said it is part of the drive train. Since he wasn't sure I would just as soon fix it myself that way I know it is right. I just wish I was at home so I had more tools. On a side note I am glad it didn't come out going down the road. Who knows what might have been torn up.

Although i love my 04, besides the drone vigration that is driving me nuts, I'm gonna be prteey POd if I lose a u-joint before 70,000