Hey guys...been a looong assed time since I've been on here. I've got a question, I get this annoying clicking sound from the rear of my truck when hitting larger bumps and dips at like 20mph or so (while coasting too). It only occurs when there is weight in the bed (I have 300lbs of sand from winter, pushed up against the cab) and I've replaced both U-joints.

I actually took my truck to the shop in the winter and the douche bag of a mechanic replaced only the lower u-joint, with one of those greasable ones. I just replaced the upper one myself today, which is non-greasable.

If all I need to do is grease the lower one, ima be pissed. Just for future reference, how exactly do i go about greasing it? seems like you need some kinda pressure to force it up in there.

Thanks.

 

You need a grease gun to grease it

Like this
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=95575

 

Awesome thanks, I'll give it a shot.

 

Check the door jam sticker for the axle code.The codes are posted on this site .
If you have a limited slip rear , It may be low on oil or the clutch packs are hanging up , or it has the wrong fluid/no LS additive in it.

 

Rear end codes
Ford Ranger Axles - The Ranger Station

 

It seems that I have an Open 8.8 axle...all this time I thought it was a limited slip.


Another thing, I just got grease into my rear U-Joint...seems that there was never any grease put in it in the first place...****ing mechanics. So is it possible that the U-Joint went bad due to not having any grease for like 4 or 5 months? Its still clicking even after I filled it.

 

If it was bone dry, than it is a possibility.

 

I believe it was...!@#$%&*


...Just in case though, what else could it be?

 

u-joints dont make a clicking noise when only turning. if they were bad, they would make a noise all the time. think about it, the drive shaft is always spinning going straight or turning. usually a clicking when only turning is in the carrier spider gears.

 

It does click when going straight, I just fixed my initial post to read as if it does it all the time (which it does)

What I was thinking was that when you are turning you are putting more pressure or weight onto one side, thus causing the drive shaft to need to flex, which made me assume the U-Joint was bad.

Let me know if my logic is flawed.

 

it sounds more like a blown shock. there is also little pads in between each spring on the leaf spring packs, sometimes the pad will fall out causing metal on metal.

 

I actually thought it was the shocks too...replaced them last fall. Just looked at the leafs seems like all of the pads are there.

 

well since its pretty simple to check if a u-joint is bad, might as well check the lower. grab the drive shaft right by the u-joint and hold on to the flange the bolts to axle. twist them in upposite directions to feel for any play. also grab the drive shaft near the u-joint and shake it up, down, side to side. if theres any play then its bad.

 

Make sure the wheels are blocked and the transmission is in neutral.

 

Man...**** this, I'm taking it to the shop lol