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What makes U-joints fail?

How to inspect U-joints

How to change U-joints

About U-joints

Universal joints, or 'U-Joints' as they are commonly referred to, are found on the drive shafts of most two wheel and four wheel drive trucks as well as rear wheel drive cars. The job of a U-joint is to transfer engine torque to the rear drive line while allowing the driveshaft to flex under normal suspension movement.

A typical rear wheel drive car or two wheel drive truck will have 2 U-joints, one on each end of the rear driveshaft. The typical four wheel drive pickup truck or sport utility vehicle may have as few as 4 and as many as 8 universal joints throughout the vehicle.

U-joints experience unusually high punishment. 4x4 vehicles are more likely to be taken off road and exposed to wet, muddy and dusty conditions which contribute to U-joint wear. It’s a good bet that if you own your truck or sport utility long enough you will need to replace at least one or two U-joints.