Topic: Clicking After Rear End Replacement

[Weldo]

I just replaced my third member (91 Pickup) with a stock replacement.  I got the member from Ebay and seemed to be in really good shape.  I did not check back lash but it seemed to be nice and tight with just a tiny bit of play. 

After I got it in I noticed a clicking sound, almost as if there was a piece of that clear plastic packaging tape wrapped around my driveshaft flapping around.  I let the wheels run with the rear end off the ground and the noise seemed to be coming from the rear U joint on the rear driveshaft, so I greased it up, along with the front U joint.

I just got back from a short ride and still hear the noise.  The rear end is full of oil and is not excessively hot, but the rear U joint at the pinion is almost too hot to touch, even after I greased it.  I would guess the joint is bad, but it has no play or slop in it at all.  Also I feel a little vibration at highway speeds

Any Ideas?

[79coyotefrg]

sounds like the pinion bearing in the 3rd is bad,

pull the 4 bolts from the rear flange,  then wiggle the flange on the pinion,  see if you can turn it at all

[olivedrab85]

Is that dust shield around the pinion bent at all, I've seen that make some weird noises.

[Weldo [OP]]

well, the dust cover is nice and straight. 

I didn't pull the driveshaft off but the pinion seems to have zero play from north to south and east to west.  It does have slop in the rotation.  About 1/4" to 3/8" when I try turning the shaft by hand.

Any idea why the u joint was so hot?

[79coyotefrg]

its got to be rusted inside  and going out,  replace it

[Weldo [OP]]

seems kinda weird for a u joint to make a clicking sound when it has no slop in it.  But it is the original U joint I think and I don't think it's been lubed in a long time.

[Weldo [OP]]

Someone please tell me how to change U joints!  I can't get 'em to go that last little bit and I'm running out of day light.

[olivedrab85]

Remove inner clips, put in vise, beat out one side with BFH, remove cap, then tap out other side and remove that cap, joint will come out, then repeat on other side. 

[Weldo [OP]]

HOLY HELL!  I know basically how to do U joints, though I've never done them on a yota, but I was having such a hard time I thought I was missing something.  I ended up taking a grinder with a cutting wheel and cuttin' out the U joints one side at a time.  Got it all back together, never guessed it would take all day.

I took a ride around in front wheel drive (4 hi and no rear driveshaft) and I heard no noise from the rear end, so I'm guessing the U joints were my problem.  I'll know for sure tomarrow.

Thanks for the help thus far!

[Weldo [OP]]

yeah, it musta been the U joints.  I got the new ones on and all seems well.