Double Cardan Type u-joints

[Harv]

95 Bronco, 5.0, 5 speed manual. Developed a chirping noise somewhere aft a few months back. Whenever I made plans to put it up on jack stands the noise would go away. U joints looked and felt o.k. but chirping came back this last week and this time consistent enough for a wheel spin inspection. The noise is definately coming from the front two u-joints or double cardan joint on rear driveshaft.

My repair manual make the job look pretty easy but... I've done front axel u-joints and ball joints myself but always seem to run into long drawn out problems when I tackle something like this. Am I in for another knuckle busting week long project? What are the chances of having to replace the double cardan joint (knuckle)?

Any advise would be appreciated.

Harv

 

[Justshootme84]

More than likely, it's one of the end u-joints gone bad, which is a simple repair. I have some pics on the CV-joint dis-assembly (will post a link) which is a little harder but not bad. The Haynes repair manual has a good write-up on changing these u-joints. While mine had the standard snap rings holding the u-joints in place, you may have one of the models with internal rings or plastic cups. A local shop charged $300 to replace all 4 u-joints and repair the middle joint ball&spring assembly on mine the last time it was repaired. The end u-joints were $18/each, but the CV joint ones were $92/ea.

Driveshafts rebuild

 

[Harv]

I'm afraid the noise is coming from the front of the shaft or the cv joint. I'm considering taking the drive shaft off and taking it to a local parts shop with a machine shop and having them remove old and instal new u joints and/or cv joint. Don't know if I'm up for the aggravation and I know the wife would appreciate me not teaching the 6 year old any new words.

Harv