Odd quote on u joint replacement..BS or legit?

My 07 Prerunner developed a squeaking u joint when it's in reverse. No big deal, seems to be a common issue and the truck did just hit 100k miles. So I called a local Toyota specialty shop and asked for a quote on replacing the joints. The guy told me they could do it, but they found a large percentage of the Taco's that come in have a bent or twisted shaft which has caused the joint issue. They pull the whole shaft and have it sent off for balancing and new joints. Same day turn around and costs $350. Does that sound right? I don't offroad, but I do tow a 5k pound boat on a regular basis (300 miles just last week), could that weight have twisted it?

 

Nah, I don't believe it. Get a local shop to do it for ya or get a buddy and some beer and make a weekend out of it.

 

get a couple of blocks of wood to rest the drive shaft on, and some proper sized sockets (same size as the caps) and knock the u joints out yourself... pretty easy process. and u joints are all of 15-30 bucks a piece.

 

I literally just changed a u joint on the rear shaft. its easy. Get a 14mm wrench, 14mm socket and rent a balljoint/u joint press from autozone.

Having NEVER done u joints before it took me an hour and a half. Just mark everything before you dis assemble to be sure it goes together in the same alignment.

 

Seems really high. DIY.

 

All new joints and balancing for $350?

That sounds good to me. I got raped at the dealer for that to just replace 1 U joint that went bad because of their neglect.

 

PM'd you jhodge. I guess the question I am really asking is could the shaft be messed up just from my regular towing activities. I haven't run over anything and I don't offroad. I feel no vibrations while driving, either. Surely if the shaft was messed enough to make the u joints go bad I would have noticed a vibration?

 

Too high. U-joints are too common of maintenance procedure to charge 350$. Driveshaft screwed??? I seriously doubt it. Now I have heard of carrier bearings failing and can kind of be a b***h.

 

Does my issue sound like it could be the carrier? The u joint I think is bad is right next to the carrier so I could really be hearing it instead.