How Much U-Joint Play is Acceptable??

[sailingjeep]

I got under the back of my rig to change out the rear diff oil tonight. The last quick oil change place I went to said they had checked it and apparently monkeyed up the drain plug in the process!! I'm gonna have to get a new tool. :)I gave up on that and started checking out other things. I started wiggling the driveshaft, there is some play in the rear U-Joint. Is any acceptable? I'm planning on driving this thing 12 hours round trip this weekend. It doesn't seem that bad. Certainly not enough to be my "clunk". Is it going to break on me anyday?

[J20 project]

Change it. J20

[64Trvlr]

Change it ASAP.
:cool:

[Crazy_Jeepman]

U-Joint. Is any acceptable? NO NONE. ;) Does not take much play to cause a clunk. Any play in a driveshaft causes it to be out of balance and will cause other problems later.

[sailingjeep]

Okay, Thanks, something else to add to my list this week smile.gif

Don't I have one on both ends? Guess I should replace both while doing it, huh?

[Crazy_Jeepman]

If no play in the other end could get away with out it. However for the price and the fact the drive shaft is out already I do both. Your Choice.

[sailingjeep]

Thanks for all this help.
I looked on Autozone.com earlier to price them.
They have them with an inner retainer or outer retainer??
I have to wait til I get home and look at the manual unless y'all have an opinion. Also, Should I go with the sealed one that says it is lubricated for a life time or one with the grease fitting?
Thank you IFSJA for your continuing support!

[The Preacher]

The problem with those joints is not only the damage they can cause other components but when they do go, you are stranded!

[64Trvlr]

Originally posted by sailingjeep:
Should I go with the sealed one that says it is lubricated for a life time or one with the grease fitting?
Go with the one that has a grease fitting. There is no such thing as lubed for life. And it's well worth the extra money to buy premium U-joints and good grease.
:cool:

[Bosox Al]

is this something that will makes a noise from exceleracion??? mine does that but not all the time, and come to think of it it does sound like a clunk. sailing jeep, goodluck on the trip this weekend, if you have any probs anywhere near savannah give me a hollar..

[sailingjeep]

I really think my clunk is from something else.
Lots of people just say these things clunk and its okay to live with it, I don't know. There is also play in my rear diff, I don't know if that is okay or not, it seems like it is what causes my clunk. Mine mostly clunks when going from park to reverse, every once a while I get an acceleration clunk, especially when I let off and then accelerate.

But I'm worried about this joint and will be replacing it before the weekend.

[64Trvlr]

Originally posted by sailingjeep:
I really think my clunk is from something else.
ROTFLMAO
Famous last words.............
Good idea on the replacement joints. Be sure and grease them with a good quality grease and hit all the other grease zerks too while your under it.
:cool:

[sailingjeep]

Thanks for the help. I dropped the driveshaft and put on my workbench and realized there was no play in the U-joints. The bolts must have been loose. I put the shaft back on tightened the bolts and wallah, not play at all!!

[scotty]

there may be alittle slop in the rear end gears.and alittle slop in some of the transfer case gears. and some slop in the tranny. not neccessarily enuff to worry about in the idividual components,but when you add up all that slop,youll get a "clunk."

long as you dont have wierd vibes,whining,or other noises while driving,i prolly wouldnt worry too much about the clunk. ;)