Broken U Joint

Hey everyone,

For the past week or so I have had a pretty bad rumble when accelerating. Finally got under the truck to look and looks like one of the U joints snapped and has started wearing in to the double cardon. My question for the experts: is it worth doing yourself or just bringing to a mechanic? My truck is a 2005 Tundra, 4wd, 260k miles on it. Thanks! Pics below:

 

And these 2 pictures are after I put it in reverse just enough to shift the weight off the u-joint

 

Glad that didn't fail while driving! Scary to think about it.

Multiple factors to consider:
1 - Is this your only mode of transportation?
2 - Can you afford for it to sit for a day or two if you attempt this and it's more than you planned for? (What's your skill level as a wrench monkey?)
3 - Do you have a mechanic/shop that you trust?
4 - Do you have the spare $$$ to make it somebody else headache?

Personally, I hate messing with drivelines, my mechanic skills are weak, and I only have one vehicle, so this would be going to a shop for me.

 

I have an old jeep that I practice most of my wrenching on that I can use to get around if I attempt this. My level of wrenching is fairly basic, mostly what I have learned on youtube. On my Jeep I've done my own lift with junk yard parts, brakes, all the regular maintenance, etc. Certainly have never done this before but I have learned plenty on youtube to get me by thus far! One of my fears is bringing it to a shop and them charging me a bundle for this (and 10 other things they might find wrong) on a truck that already has 260K miles on it. But you definitely bring up some great points and it is good to hear it from someone else.

Thanks for the input!

 

There's a couple posts on the forum about the double cardon joint. None of which are encouraging. Short answer, you cant buy just the joint new anywhere. Even if you could, removing the old joint from the driveshaft is a pain due to the geometry of the cardon joint. It's not just two universals back-to-back. There's a ball similar to a steering knuckle ball joint that is in between the universals. All three move in concert with each other which prevents just banging out the universal cups.

I think you need an entire rear driveshaft assembly which will have the cardon joint already installed. Please update the thread as you solve this problem as there is no recent info regarding this repair.

 

Like @remington351 said, you need a new shaft. Or at the very least a shop that would chop the old yoke off, weld new, and balance the shaft.

If it's your only vehicle pull the whole driveshaft and put it in 4wd until you get it fixed.

 

If it wasn't the double cardan I would say go for it.
Since it is, I say find a local driveline shop and have them do it.
I don't agree that you need a new shaft.
Dana list u joints at the center support bearing for a 2 piece rear shaft for 2wd.
I would compare those measurements to yours.

https://www.danaaftermarket.com/sea...t3=UJ&y=2006&mk=Toyota&md=Tundra&ymmType=AUTO

 

The joints aren't why we're saying replace the shaft. It chewed a groove in the yoke, no shop is going to install joints in it.

 

True but a drive line shop will reuse the good parts like the tube, rear yoke and the cardan housing. That save's quite a bit of money. This custom shaft cost me $400 to be built. They reuses the end yokes and replace the tube for $100.

 

Got it. I didn't see that particular damage. (I must have skimmed through )

Yeah, I would replace that part of the shaft.
I run a woody..
http://www.4xshaft.com
Good price. Well built.

Could pick up a used one from a yard also.

 

Sure looks like that yoke is toast. They're pricey. Reman driveshaft may be your best bet. The driveline shops in my area have pretty good turnaround usually but a quality reman is the quickest. Most of the shops I used to deal with wouldn't touch those doubles.

 

I would take it a driveline/driveshaft shop and tell him to get rid of the double Caden joint and install standard joint with slip joint spline. Or at least get their professional opinion on your options.i had a custom driveshaft made for my truck to eliminate vibrations and driveline failures

 

I second the motion.

 

Look at how dry that Trunnion is. Do 1st Gens have Zerks, or are they sealed units? Haven't looked at what my 19 has yet, but I've always been a big believer that a sealed cup is far superior to the ones that have Zerks. Just my 2 cents of course.

 

Yeah, doesn't look lile those u joints have been greased in a very long time...

 

I wouldn't rid of the double cardan without measure the angle of the transfer case output shaft in relation to the center line of the rear diff pinion shaft. If they are aren't parallel a double cardan is required.

 

Years ago I had an F150 that I broke my driveshaft on the side of the road a few miles from home. I got picked up, went home and got tools, pulled the driveshaft, drove the truck home in FWD & had the driveshaft fixed.

Good luck.

 

Thanks for all the advice thus far! So out of curiosity, I took my rear driveshaft off and drove to the Toyota dealership to see about a repair through them. They wanted 1900 for the repair and offered me 500 to take the truck off my hands! Crazy. So now I am on my way to a pull-a-part to see if there is anything worth salvaging before going to a driveline shop. Below is a video of the shaft off the truck where you can see really how close it was to falling off while driving!

 

Try finding a Heavy Truck Shop. They see this stuff all the time on Big Rigs. Since you have the shaft off already its a no brainer for them. Probs a few hundred with labor and new Spicer joints total.

 

That's a banana sandwich price considering the list price from Toyota for a complete shaft is only $1500.

You could see if anybody has this one in stock.
https://www.dormanproducts.com/p-68546-936-719.aspx

 

After striking out at two pull a parts, I’m gonna try to find this. Thanks for the link. That should save a lot of headache!

 

Try car-part.com too.

 

My rear drive shaft just broke on Friday night. Somehow the nut that holds the two piece shaft together at the double cardon got loose and stripped the last couple threads off and then ground down the splines. I just ordered a new drive shaft from https://www.wholesaleimportparts.com/Toyota_Tundra_Driveshaft_2005.php because they seemed well made and with 275k miles on this truck I figured a new drive shaft was worth it rather than trying to get this one repaired.

My double cardon looks fine and you may be able to use it? Id be more than happy to send it to you if you want to cover the shipping. I am assuming they are the same between our trucks.

 

Let us know the price once you locate that bit of info. Went to the website, but lots of hoops to jump for price?

 

Amazon and Summit Racing list it for a little under $600.

 

Not bad! My heavy truck center quoted $180 for all new Spicers with labor. Guy said he has done quite a few 1st Gen Tundras and knows they are a pain due to the Doublé Cardán. The catch was I had to pull it and reinstall it. Wasn’t interested.

 

Afraid to mess up the money makers?

 

Wow I certainly appreciate the offer seth419! Very nice thing to do. But after some more searching thanks to SC T100 suggesting the car-part.com, I found a junkjard 50 miles away that had an 06 full driveshaft which was a direct fit. Already bolted it back on (after greasing all the zerks) and the Tundra is driving like new again. Spent 200 at the junkyard for the used driveshaft in pretty good condition. Just didn't have it in me to spend 600 on a new one.



Thanks again everyone for the support! This is an awesome community.

 

$mart move.

 

Glad to hear it worked out! Don't forget to do a few pumps of grease into the slip yoke at each oil change, too. Should keep the driveline bump gremlins away.