Checking U-Joints?

venumus93 · 05-14-2002, 01:20 PM

Hey! Trying to see how it would be best to check u-joints for 5.0 T-5, 8.8 rear equipped Mustangs. I heard a clunking noise out of my car's rear when decelerating. I tsounded definately like from the rear & not my tranny, but I wnat ot check it out....should there by ANY play in the driveshaft? Thanks for any/all advice! later!

Falcons Talon · 05-14-2002, 01:44 PM

I have a 92 gt. I got under the car and got a good grip on the drive shaft. I put some muscle into it and twisted it both ways. The forward u joint was going out and there was some play. Not the rattling type of play like you get from the transmission. I wouldn't even call it lose. The play is more of a heavy shift in the driveshaft. Good luck.

Unit 5302 · 05-14-2002, 10:09 PM

Bad U-Joints are often hard to detect. My suggestion is to pull the driveshaft. Move the yoke and the rear joint around the full range of motion. Try to feel for ANY rough spots at all. Also, hold the driveshaft in position, and try to turn it by grasping the U joint and twisting back and forth. You shouldn't be able to get ANY play.

When you have the driveshaft out, tranny fluid will have a tendancy to leak out of the tailshaft of the T-5. If you're lucky, you have a stub shaft you can stick in there, otherwise, I'd put a little pan underneath it and try to have the car jacked up in back.

venumus93 · 05-15-2002, 05:24 PM

Thanks, UNIT!
Well, I slid my phat butt under the car last night, and I tried to turn the dirveshaft & there was maybe a 1/8th inch of play, but I heard the rattle still! So, I grabbed for one of the 4 bolts back there that hold the driveshaft onto the u-joint plate & the bolt was hand loose! So were the other 3 bolts!!!! I guess my mechanic forgot to put locktite on those when he did my gears last year! So, I got out some lock-tite & re-did them one at a time so as not to have to drop the driveshaft(dont want any mess on my nice & clean grey painted floor!). I didnt hear the noise at all today, & will go see if they're still tight after dinner. thanks again for the replys! Later!

p.s. Unit, did you hear about the LS1 that outran the Space Shuttle out at our local FL dragstrip??!!?? You know us Floridians are big on the Space Shuttle thing......hahahahahahaha! later!

05-14-2002, 01:20 PM	#1
venumus93 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: West Melbourne, FL, USA Posts: 237	Checking U-Joints? Hey! Trying to see how it would be best to check u-joints for 5.0 T-5, 8.8 rear equipped Mustangs. I heard a clunking noise out of my car's rear when decelerating. I tsounded definately like from the rear & not my tranny, but I wnat ot check it out....should there by ANY play in the driveshaft? Thanks for any/all advice! later! __________________ 93Cobra#3974, 114K miles 3.55's, flo's, pullies, C&L 1/4: 13.985 60': 2.088 (street tires) MPH: 99.58

05-15-2002, 05:24 PM	#4
venumus93 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: West Melbourne, FL, USA Posts: 237	Thanks, UNIT! Well, I slid my phat butt under the car last night, and I tried to turn the dirveshaft & there was maybe a 1/8th inch of play, but I heard the rattle still! So, I grabbed for one of the 4 bolts back there that hold the driveshaft onto the u-joint plate & the bolt was hand loose! So were the other 3 bolts!!!! I guess my mechanic forgot to put locktite on those when he did my gears last year! So, I got out some lock-tite & re-did them one at a time so as not to have to drop the driveshaft(dont want any mess on my nice & clean grey painted floor!). I didnt hear the noise at all today, & will go see if they're still tight after dinner. thanks again for the replys! Later! p.s. Unit, did you hear about the LS1 that outran the Space Shuttle out at our local FL dragstrip??!!?? You know us Floridians are big on the Space Shuttle thing......hahahahahahaha! later! __________________ 93Cobra#3974, 114K miles 3.55's, flo's, pullies, C&L 1/4: 13.985 60': 2.088 (street tires) MPH: 99.58

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05-14-2002, 01:44 PM	#2
Falcons Talon T.P.M. President Join Date: May 2002 Location: Brownsville Posts: 265	I have a 92 gt. I got under the car and got a good grip on the drive shaft. I put some muscle into it and twisted it both ways. The forward u joint was going out and there was some play. Not the rattling type of play like you get from the transmission. I wouldn't even call it lose. The play is more of a heavy shift in the driveshaft. Good luck.

05-14-2002, 10:09 PM	#3
Unit 5302 Registered Member Join Date: May 1999 Posts: 5,246	Bad U-Joints are often hard to detect. My suggestion is to pull the driveshaft. Move the yoke and the rear joint around the full range of motion. Try to feel for ANY rough spots at all. Also, hold the driveshaft in position, and try to turn it by grasping the U joint and twisting back and forth. You shouldn't be able to get ANY play. When you have the driveshaft out, tranny fluid will have a tendancy to leak out of the tailshaft of the T-5. If you're lucky, you have a stub shaft you can stick in there, otherwise, I'd put a little pan underneath it and try to have the car jacked up in back.