U joint noise

[Riad]

Sorry folks, it's a tad long.... but here it goes....When I step on the accelerator, there's this noise comes from the bottom. It's like propelling 'creaking' noise. The noise kinda phases out in high speed. Comes back right before complete stop, with or without brake. When there's another vehicle passes me to right, the noise shifts to the right, when there's a vehicle on the left, the noise shifts to the left. I first thought it must be the brake pads. So this weekend I put the truck on floor jacks shifted to 'N'. I rotate the front wheels and I find no noise. Then I am scratching my head. I crawl down and rotate the front drive shaft with both hands, wtf , no noise. I am thinking where did the noise go . Then I turn on the air compressor and then lock the front locker. As soon as I rotate the wheel (both wheels as it is locked) with hand the noise kicked in. It's like some one's opening a rusty door, like Michael Jackson's "Thriller" video. I crawl down under the truck again, rotate the wheel with my legs and put my right ear under the front pinion and there it was . It's coming from the U joint.

Now, when I put back my 3rd member (with ARB installed) few weeks ago, I took that opportunity to grease the drive shaft and forgot to mark the match maker between the sleeve yoke and the shaft. So as you know it, I simply put the shaft back in the yoke and buttoned her up. I have been to CMCC after this ARB installation and it is a daily driver too. The noise is a recent development. So I am guessing the U joint is bad in the front drive shaft pinion side and I hope I am right . So I have decided to replace the front U joints.

Now, the questions are : What is/are the difference/s between MAF and OEM Toyota U joints, other than the price? If you have MAF joints, please post up your thoughts.

Do I need to take out the drive shaft again and realign it or I can just leave the way it is.


Thanks

 

[Romer]

You should use the OEM joints because they are better quality. A guy at a drive shaft place who usualyy uses another brand told me that as well. You should also take the opportunity to have your shaft balanced.

Have you tried driving without the front shaft to make sure the noise is gone? If its coming from about where your center console is, it might be the rear shaft

 

[Riad]

Thanks Romer. I am leaning more towards the OEM joints. The noise is coming from the front shaft, to be exact it is coming from the front pinion side u joint. As I have mentioned above that I have pin poined the noise there.

So what is the best way to balance the drive shaft? Can I do it myself or I have to take it to a DShaft shop?

Thanks

 

[Romer]

Thanks Romer. I am leaning more towards the OEM joints. The noise is coming from the front shaft, to be exact it is coming from the front pinion side u joint. As I have mentioned above that I have pin poined the noise there.

So what is the best way to balance the drive shaft? Can I do it myself or I have to take it to a DShaft shop?

Thanks

You need a shop to do it.

I was convinced my front shaft was the problem and finally figured out it was my rear shaft. Lots have made the same mistake, just thought I would add that. Actually in my case, both shafts had some issues and when I ifinally replaced all 4 U joints and had both shafts balanced, the problems went away.

Here is a link from the FAQ:
https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=80904


Note the orienatation of the front shaft before you have it balanced. A lot of drive shaft shops are unaware and will balance it the other way.

 

[Riad]

Thanks a lot Romer for that link. I'm going to check out the rear drive shaft as well.