U-joint And Transmission Problems

[Docbaillie]

I Seem To Have Problems With My 2003 F-350 Heavy Duty, 7.3. My Truck Is For Working, Not Going To Church. Every 3-4 Months I Seem To Have To Replace The Universal Joints And Upper Support Bearing. I Use The Truck To Haul A 29' Flat Bed With 10,000 To 12,000 Pounds Of Hay Or Deliver Travel Trailers. No Engine Problems, But Have Had Transmission Rebuilt 3 Times. Any Suggestions About The U-joint Problems. I Feel This Is Causing The Transmission Problems. I Have The Trans Flushed Every 50,000 Miles And This Last Time There Was Metal In The Pan And They Said That They Rplaced A "center Bearing".
Any Suggestions.

Docbaillie

[chuckster57]

Who does the work on the driveline? Sounds like maybe the driveshaft is out of balance, and the support bearing isn't centered when installed.

BTW: Welcome to The Diesel Stop

[Plywood]

I used to have a Bronco II that would go throught U-joints about every 6 months, that is if I bought the crappy ones from the local auto parts store.

Finally I took the driveline into a driveline shop and they put solid core u-joints in it from Spicer I think it was, and they last forever.

Another thing is, depending on the type you have, if there are single U-joints at either end, they have to be at 90 degrees from each other and the shafts they hook to have to be parallel.

Some have a double U-joint or constant velocity joint at one end and then the rear end shaft is parallel to the rear end of the drive shaft. Problem with these is if the springs sag or there is always load then the rear of the driveshaft is not always parallel with the shaft of the rear end.

Moral of the story is if someone has changed the type of joints, or type of driveline, or whatever else, and it dosen't all work together, the torque delivered will not be constant, as in constant velocity, the velocity will be a pulsating velocity which will be hard on all kinds of stuff.

[ta5150]

Is the truck lifted? Is there an excessive driveline angle?

I would check driveline for out of balance. You may have to take it to a qualified driveline shop.
Is your rear differential pinion seal leaking?
Is the transmission output seal leaking?
(both common with drivelineout of balance situations)

Is the driveline dented or visibly bent?
Can you notice any balance weights that may be missing from the driveline?
Are the u-joints in phase w/each other?
When you have the driveline disconnected, make sure the slip yoke moves freely.

[Rick M]

I would sure check the slip joint. In their cost controlling wisdom not only did Ford give us ball joints that can't be greased they also gave us drive shaft slip joints that can't be greased. If I were ever going to have custom work done on my drive shaft adding grease zerks would be number one. I already have a set of greaseable ball joints on hand to install after hunting season is over.

[BlueMuleTrucking]

Originally Posted by Rick M

I would sure check the slip joint. In their cost controlling wisdom not only did Ford give us ball joints that can't be greased they also gave us drive shaft slip joints that can't be greased. If I were ever going to have custom work done on my drive shaft adding grease zerks would be number one. I already have a set of greaseable ball joints on hand to install after hunting season is over.

I did the ball joints, like you I went with greasable ball joint. Now I just need to remember to grease them.