I'm a bit confused this morning....

I removed "Silvers" drive shaft approximately 2-3 weeks ago. I chose to rebuild it b4 the winter so as to have all points greasable.

When I went to get the U-joints it was Sunday and the only store at that time which had joints available in my area was AutoZone. All three joints have fittings and are made in USA.

I had to order the centering ball/flange from a local vendor and wait for it to be delivered. It to can be lubed at 2 points. They did not tell me the name of the manufacturer.

I put all of the components in via a vise and 8" c-clamp.
The install was tricky but went well.

Changed over to my winter tire/rim combo on Friday morning.

Yesterday on the way across town all of a sudden I start getting this loud screeching sound from the front end and I'm thinking it sounds like the passenger unitized wheel bearing squealing.
I stop lift the vehicle with the jack check to see if their is play or movement....nada, zip! take wheel off and no visible signs of trouble. Checked other side just to be safe.

Get back to the home front take out rebuilt drive shaft. Go for several mile ride. Quiet! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Come back home. Take apart the entire driveshaft and check for visible signs of wear. Nada, zip!
Put drive shaft back together. Install in "Silver". Go for several mile ride. No Noise!

What gives? Is it the AutoZone joints?
Is it the no name centering flange?
Nothing seems wrong. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

I noticed that the tolerances on the joints and flange assembly seem sloppy in comparison to OEM, but nothing that would give that squealing, screeching sound.

You didn't elaborate on the noise.. Did it come and go with speed? Did it come and go with braking? Did it come and go with rpm?

Your ride doesn't seem to me to have enough time on it to have replaced all the front driveshaft joints. Seems they should last 100K just about no matter what you do with the vehicle. Mine do anyway.
Big JIm

Hey BJ,

It is rotational in nature and seems to increase with speed. I go about a mile or two and the noise begins to happen. It sounds like what a water pump would sound like going out, but it is from the under side of the jeep forward of the tranny area. It seems to emanate nearest the drive shaft passenger front area. Yes, it would seem that the drive shaft would have been good for quite a bit more mileage, but I chose to replace everything early. I don't want to have a cv freeze on me while plowing. Now all components are greasable.

C.

Ok then if gently applying the brakes doesn't effect the noise you have a problem! And now that you have installed all the joints at the same time...you have no idea where the problem is.. Can you remember having a bit more trouble installing one of the joints than the others?
I guess I'd lube one joint at a time and then drive it between each lube to see if that particular lube had made any difference.
There is a chance you could find the problem joint thataway.
Big Jim

Hey BJ I'm thinking it is probably that the AutoZone joints have slop in them from cap to cap. After re-building the shaft for a 2nd time and greasing the snot out of everything it is quiet for at least Monday.

I made sure to clean each cap and each joint body and then re-install them in different positions. I'll see what happens.

C.

You've got more courage than I have. I wouldn't even dream of reinstalling a u-joint.
I would have taken them back and complained that they squealed.. Since it is no skin off of the guy's nose at the parts house he would have given me new ones.
Big Jim

Hmmm...

Good point. I've got very lil comfort with these particular U-joints at this point. I'm keeping an eye /ear open and they will come out at the 1st sign of even a hiccup. Lol!

C.

I've had the seal on the center part of the double cardan squeel on new Jeeps because it was dry of grease. Grease was in the joint, just not on the external seal surface maybe the grease finally worked onto the center joint seal when you removed the shaft and it flexed fully with no stress on it?

My daddy always told me...
If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

Yes,
I've notice since the re-build of the drive shaft and the re-installation it has been quiet. I made sure to grease liberally all points.

C.