Possible U-Joint Squeak

Just wanting some confirmation on a squeak that seems to match the driveshaft rotation but currently only in reverse.

2007 Original driveshaft, U-Joints, and carrier bearing.

https://youtu.be/Jx16hjlFt2s

I’m thinking U-Joint but I want outside input.

Slowly teaching myself with the help of TW on doing all of my own maintenance. Shortly after hearing the squeak I bought a grease gun. Every U-Joint was verging on dry, it took probably 5-10 pumps before the old black grease came out.

 

could also be carrier bearing, definitely sounds rotational . All very easy to replace and cheap with quality spicer parts. If you replace one, just replace em all if they have never been greased.

 

I had just ordered one U-Joint then realized how dumb that was since I was going to drop the driveshaft, I might as well replace them all. Ordered two more and the seller sent me the wrong ones, so now I’m waiting for the correct ones lol.

Do carrier bearings give any other signs of failure that you know of? There is a chance it could be the carrier bearing because in person the squeak is right around that area.

 

Oh, the good ole 2nd gen carrier bearing.... all sorts of fail with it from the factory especially on the 4x4's which should of never been placed with the super floppy one found on the prerunners (as the 4x4s have a slip joint after the carrier bearing).

You might just order a proper spicer CB and replace everything while you are there ... or if you want way less floppy the proper ford ranger CB and make some lengthened mounts if you are 4x4 while you are in there replacing all of the 3 u joints. To replace the CB you have to remove the center U joint.

 

"Sounds" more like a CB to me...replace it and all 3 U-Joints at once and save yourself the time! On a 2007 in the Utah winters, depnding on your mileage, it's probably time.

 

I think that is definitely the Ujoints squeaking. I would replace them all with spicer, but if it was me, i would not replace the Carrier bearing. I got 250k miles out of my OEM carrier bearing, and after i replaced it, i figured out it wasn't even bad (i was troubleshooting vibrations)

The job will be much quicker if you dont replace the CB. I dont see hardly any play in it in the video you posted when the truck started moving. I highly doubt your CB is the issue

 

Excellent info, good to know. I am undecided if I am going to change the CB. I know I should since I’ll have the driveshaft off, but I’m lazy. Haha!

More info I probably should have included: 118k miles and zero vibrations

 

Maybe you SHOULD leave the carrier in then...vibrations are the only reason I changed mine. It really is all about each driver handles their truck.

 

I’m all for less work!

 

If you are around the Sandy area, I'd be glad to lend a hand.

 

I am just south of Provo, unfortunately I’ll be gone all next week on vacation in Tahoe and I think the last 2 U-Joints are arriving Saturday so I will have to wait until July before I can work on it

 

No worries on timing man. I'm around.

 

Thanks for everyone’s input! I decided to do it easy (lazy) and just replace the 3 U-Joints on the main drive shaft and worry about the CB later. @Gunshot-6A and I dropped the drive shaft and started pulling U-Joints. Sure enough the center U-Joint had 2 seized spokes, one of them we had to force off and it dumped a rusty looking metal powder everywhere! 3 brand new U-Joints later and everything is perfect! No more squeaking!