Driveline noise with rotation.

[Airmapper]

This noise has cropped up and I think I know what it is, but I'll run it by the experts. Also won't make bad reference for others and actually hear the noise and compare it to what I find later.

Here is a bad cell phone video but you can hear it as the squeaky sound relative to movement.



A little history, I've had the runner about a year now and 10,000 miles. I noticed this noise when I first got it. At one point I had it in the tire shop and the guy there noticed it and mentioned it to me, I said yes I know but I'm not sure where it's coming from, so we both were under the lift and inspected around looking for the source and neither of us came up with anything. No obvious leaks or looseness in anything. I let it be as I had bigger fish to fry.

It diminished over the summer (warmer temps) so I didn't think any more of it, so hey, I take those, my thinking on most automotive issues I can't find the cause of is "it's going to either get worse or get better."

But now it's louder and I can hear it inside the vehicle, and I even suspect some roughness in the drive-line under power might be occurring, although it's hard to tell if it's that or the worn tie rods I should replace or the worn out shocks.... my runner actually drives very smooth all things considered, it probably shouldn't but it does.

From what I've researched, I think it's most likely dry u-joints. It's not something I've touched yet and I doubt the previous owner did anything to them or I'd have a receipt for it. (I somehow got decent records with this thing, he changed the oil regularly, that's about it.) My plan for the moment is lube the driveshaft and see if that fixes it, and keep possible u-joint replacement in mind of one has gone too far.

So I need to read up on lubing the driveshaft which has been on my radar along with the other um-teen things I need to maintain and haven't found time for.

Do you guys agree?

 

[alanflies]

Yep, that's your u-joints. you may be able to grease them yourself. just crawl under there with a grease gun and grease every zerk you can find.

 

[rkntoy]

Yup. Grease those puppies and hope you do not need to replace them.

 

[Airmapper]

Glad you guys think so as well.

The other stuff I was reading suggested pinion bearing which did not sound fun. It really sounds like it's coming from behind the T-case instead of the rear end though.

I think I'm going to pick up some grease tonight close to the specs I found in a how to thread. I'm not going to fool with that two types stuff though, no real evidence it matters.

Fingers crossed it's just a grease job.

I almost didn't post this, but figured since I had the video if someone stumbles on it in a search, they might can compare the sound.

 

[Airmapper]

Just got finished, it was bone dry. Some joints took 3-4 pumps before I could even tell it was filling up. The sliding joints probably took half a tube.

The noise is gone now, but I'll be watching it after a few trips to town and back. So if this turns up in search, the nose you hear in the video is what neglected u- joints sound like just like these guys said.

 

[alanflies]

Fantastic...Glad it worked out for ya, and your truck thanks you too...

 

[nc-grayson]

Lube the drive shaft? What is that?

In all seriousness....how often are folks doing this? This is definitely not on my list of current routine maintenance.

I know it needs to be done...but I'm guilty of the "out of sight out of mind" or "if it ain't broke don't fix it" mindset when it comes to regular lubing of my shaft