Any small amount of "slack" in a u-joint ok??? (Page 1/2)
vinny AUG 17, 03:23 AM
Car is a 94 Trans am 4l60 trans. There is a grumbling sound coming from what appears to be the console area. I can move the front u joint a very small amount.

Thanks
squisher86SE AUG 17, 11:48 AM
U-joints shouldn't really have any noticeable play. A certain amount of gear lash from the differential or transmission is expected, but the universal itself shouldn't have any.
Quad Raider AUG 17, 01:35 PM
Are you sure the movement is in the u-joint itself? There shouldn't be any play in the u-joint. If there is, bad things can happen. Unfortunately, I know from experience. ;(
rogergarrison AUG 17, 02:45 PM
Ive seen U joints clatter even when they seemed to have no play at all. Ill bet you that your prob going to find a bad bearing in the rear of trans if its a drumming sound. U joints usually clank clank clank and speed up as you go faster. I thought I might have a bad pinion bearing in the rear end on one of mine. Now Im suspecting that the low/reverse band in the trans is going out. It has a growl when you start out, but quiets after I get moving. First thing to check is to see if the rear seal of the trans is leaking ahead of the joint. You can also see if the joint itself is spraying lube on the bottom of the car in line with it. Thats a sure sign of a bad joint....its worn so the bearings are running hot and melting the grease and spraying it out of the seals.
Khw AUG 18, 10:54 PM
I had to replace the U joints on the front shaft of a 01 Yukon a few months ago. When the vehicle was in motion you could here a clang sound, but the U joint itself didn't really have any noticable play in it. However, by tapping different things in the area, the only thing with the same kind of tone was that front shaft. I picked up some new U joints for it and when I pulled the joints one of them had 2 caps full of rusted needles. Chances are if there is any play in the U joint itself, not the driveline, then they need replaced. Even if there is no play noticeable, they still might need it. Have someone drive the car slowly while you walk along next to it. Pay attention to the sound it makes, then pop it up on stands and see if you can replicate the sound. That should help narrow it down between the U joint or something else in the driveline. The thing that sucked about the 01 Yukon is they were the stock U joints. Those didn't have the little keeper pins to hold them in place. Instead they were, apparantly, epoxy injected in place... Uhg.

[This message has been edited by Khw (edited 08-18-2012).]

vinny AUG 25, 06:33 PM
OK guys sorry no responses to your responses been very busy. I have replaced the trans tail bushing and seal with only a 5% improvement, yoke looks great. Upon closer looking I don't see any movement in the u-joints. I am thinking about the converter. Let's talk about this more. I used jack stands to hold the rear of the car off the ground. In park or neutral the car runs relatively smooth for a car with 203,000 miles. I put the car in gear and start to rev (rpms going up wheels spinning) it starts vibrating/ rumbling/grumdling/etc....... Come on guys........Converter or not???

vinny

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88GT (permanently under the knife)
80 Trans am (also under the knife)
02 Trans am (sometimes under the knife)

E.Furgal AUG 25, 07:04 PM
cracked flexplate.. or loose bolts.. with 200k.. it could very well be a cracked plate.
E.Furgal AUG 25, 07:05 PM
center support in the 700r4.. oops.. the 4l60e
vinny AUG 25, 07:36 PM
Checked the bolts. Non loose. In neutral the converter and plate spin, no vibration, in gear vibration,
E.Furgal AUG 26, 08:52 AM
could be center support,( internal.). have you checked the motor and trans mounts?