My U Joints are shot!!!

[MSHardeman]

I think all of our VX's clunk when you put them into gear and I think it's just the gears engaging. If you put it into gear and hear a little ring (like a bell) after the clunk that usually means that something is loose. The other way to tell if your U-joints are going is to crawl under the car, grab the drive shaft and try to twist it. If it twists more than a minute amount they your U-joint is going. If it twists a lot, then it's a miracle that your U-joint is still attached.

[etlsport]

crawl under your vx... find the drive shaft.. on each end of it is a funny looking connection.. that your u-joint.. while you are down there.. find the grease fitting on them and put some new grease in there! itll help with the hard stop clunks

[CoastieCosta567]

can any1 of yo guy show some kind of step to step pictures to check the u joints, sorry, i just learn and understand things better with pictures, . Thanx guys. also on how to grease them and what grease to use?

[etlsport]

check back around 9 or 10 tonight, i'll see if i can put together a quick vid of greasing them.

[JHarris1385]

Etl you mention the grease fitting....

I have a friend with a Ford Explorer AWD and where the drive shaft enters the transfer case the "seal" there has ripped and the grease has spun out of there. You have any idea what to call that seal/gasket part? He is less mechanical than I, and our local parts guy at OReiley's did not know the proper name.

Thanks.

[CoastieCosta567]

Thanx Etl..

[tomdietrying]

My U-joints went bad around 90,000 miles. Basically, the U-joint connects to the drive shaft. Your drive shaft should be tight and steady. If you grab your drive shaft with two hands. Try moving it back and forth. It shouldn't move at all. If it does, your U-joint needs to be replaced.

Also, if the back of your car shakes in the rear suspect the U-joint. Go 20-30 miles per hour, the car starts shaking, release your foot off of the gas, it should ease shaking. If this happens, you have bad U-joints.

Peace.
Tom
012009