U Joints & lifts

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TruckinGirl

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Has anyone else had any major issues with U Joints. A month ago I started hearing some horrible squeaking from my undercarriage.. sounded like a duck was getting murdered. I knew I had stock U joints so immediately went and got some new spicers knowing mine were stock anyways but my truck only has now 72,000 miles on it. Replaced the Ujoints and turned out they were almost about to disintegrate! now all is good. just wondering if anyone else, especially with lifted trucks..have had this issue?

I also didnt know u NEEDED a press.. so goodthing i went and got them put in before i ripped out my driveshaft!

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txbass06

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I had one of the front axle joints throw a cap about this time last year. Took me a few days before I could figure out what it was. I need to go ahead and replace all the other ones. I figured it's about time since they're 15 years old and have almost 100k on them
 
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TruckinGirl

TruckinGirl

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I had one of the front axle joints throw a cap about this time last year. Took me a few days before I could figure out what it was. I need to go ahead and replace all the other ones. I figured it's about time since they're 15 years old and have almost 100k on them

100k sounds right..but 72! its like come on... Chrysler needs to step up there game..and that goes for u joints and transmissions!

i romp on my truck offroad and Id hate to blow out a ujoint! id be a sitting duck. thankfully..i shouldnt have to worry now
 

txbass06

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Well did you buy your truck brand new? If not, there's no telling what the previous owner did (or didn't) do as far as suspension/chassis maintenance. And lifts are hell on some drivetrain components
 

Stangshcky12

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Just replaced front axle u joints at nearly 150k
My buddy had alot of problem with his rear u joint on his lifted yj
It ended up being because his transmission drop wasn't installed the right way which through off the shaft angle
Going spicer was definitely a good choose.
You don't "need" a press to do them but it sure as hell helps. Doing them on the side of te road is not fun but I have it down now haha
 
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TruckinGirl

TruckinGirl

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Well did you buy your truck brand new? If not, there's no telling what the previous owner did (or didn't) do as far as suspension/chassis maintenance. And lifts are hell on some drivetrain components

i bought it with 50,000 miles on it.. stock height.. its a sport so it had the ground effects kit on it... i dont believe it had been touched.. ill never really know.. but i do know it hasnt been 4 wheeled! cant 4wheel with ground effects lol

this is after i lifted it..and before i took the ground effects off..it looked stupid right?

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TruckinGirl

TruckinGirl

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Just replaced front axle u joints at nearly 150k
My buddy had alot of problem with his rear u joint on his lifted yj
It ended up being because his transmission drop wasn't installed the right way which through off the shaft angle
Going spicer was definitely a good choose.
You don't "need" a press to do them but it sure as hell helps. Doing them on the side of te road is not fun but I have it down now haha

the one that was really bad was the rear so that makes me wonder.. :baby:.. and i havent had to fix mine on the side of the road yet! knock on wood
 

BlackedOutHemi

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It had to have been touched. Sports didn't come with the ground effects. Unless it was previously a Daytona?

Good thing you got it all figured out. Being stranded sucks!
 

txbass06

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Trying to fix a u joint on the side of the road is always fun. I've still got a golf ball sized burn scar on my arm from doing that with my old k5 one night lol
 

Stangshcky12

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I'll take a u joint on the side of the road over dropping an ax15 trans. on the side of a highway!
 

KGBIGCOUNTRY

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It had to have been touched. Sports didn't come with the ground effects. Unless it was previously a Daytona?

The Hemi Sport trucks came with the front bumper and side cladding and stick on style scoop. The Daytona has the SRT hood with the vent blocked off, the Rumble bee and Hemi sports had the more stick on scoop.
 

BlackedOutHemi

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Is the Hemi Sport a different package than the normal Sport? The GFs sister has an 05 sport. And it didn't come with any of that. Hmm. Interesting!


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KGBIGCOUNTRY

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Yep the Hemi sport came in Red, Silver and Black I believe. It had a decal on the rear fender along with a decal on the scoop. There were a few in my area, nothing done to them other the exhuast tip and apperance mods.
 

BlackedOutHemi

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Ah. Didn't know they offered that package. That's cool. Learn something new! Haha.


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TruckinGirl

TruckinGirl

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Yep the Hemi sport came in Red, Silver and Black I believe. It had a decal on the rear fender along with a decal on the scoop. There were a few in my area, nothing done to them other the exhuast tip and apperance mods.

yea its just appearance mods to the sports.. i believed they stop making them in... 04?

idk.. i just bought it cus it was 4x4
 

HemiBabe

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In case you ever have to change your U-joints again, you can get a U-Joint servicing kit at harbor freight or rent the tool from auto zone and do it yourself. It's basically a huge C-clamp and they pop right out :) 70k sounds about right to me if it's being used offroad, they can wear out easier that way. Nevertheless, glad ya got it fixed
 

fonzyn75

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my 98 thats lifted blew a u joint the other day and the drive shaft flew out of it and it ruined the back tail housing of my transfer case which ended up in me having to get the truck towed back to my house. its defiantly a smart idea to get stronger u joints on the drive shafts especially a lifted one. i learned the hard way
 

Vanellala

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I have a 2004 Hemi Sport 4x4 that's in the shop getting lifted right now! I hope it looks as sweet as yours does when I get it back!
 

inktoxicated

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havent had an issue yet on 65 k. only had lift on for 3000 miles. i do get a little bindage it seems from one of the joints. i plan on replacing soon when some money is laying around. the random clicking from the front wheel area is conserning me lately.
 
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