So I've got a little clunking if the motor lugs a bit, I see some chaffing near my dual exhaust pipes, and there's maybe 1/8" slop at my U-joint. I will get the pipes moved out a bit. Could be my 'magination and maybe a light wobble at 40 MPHish going down the road, but it is a 53' with open shaft. Can someone educate me on field diagnosis of a Universal going bad, signs and symtoms? Thanks Flashlight
Stop now Before it fails whilst you're driving and the propshaft decides to dance the dance of death , taking your truck with it.... . I'm amazed you didn't mention any rumbling or grinding noise when under throttle . Be sure to make sure the 1/8" slop is the cross inside the yokes and not the yoke slopping on it's shaft , that's a whole 'nother ball of wax . Once you have the old U-Joint out , take the time to polish the inside of the yoke's holes so the new caps will slide right in by thumb pressure like they're supposed to . Work over some clean towels and if a cap stops going in STOP , remove it and have a look see , maybe one roller bearing has fallen out of place . - I always glue them in with some stiff grease . If you mindlessly hammer a cap in after polishing so they'll slide in , you'll bend , break or otherwise ruin a roller bearing or more and no , you cannot assemble it with bent / broken or missing roller bearings , not even one .
