U-Joints

Been tearing through forums for the better part of an hour, with no luck (maybe I need to learn how to use the search bar better)

2007, 4x4, automatic, 57,000 miles (seems a little premature, probably needed more grease)

Been hearing a *clunk* when backing up (from park) in the parking lot for the last few days/week, and occasionally when shifting from reverse to drive, and am assuming it's bad U-joints or at least one of them.

Before replacing, I want to make sure that's what it is, and I've been hearing mixed things. Do I need to:

• Jack it up, put in neutral, and try to spin the drive shaft to see how much play the u-joint has?

OR​

• Block the tires, put in neutral and try to move the drive shaft forward and backwards

or something else entirely....

Assuming the U-joints are bad, does anyone have part numbers for what they used? Obviously, I'd like to have greaseable replacements. I'm not cheap when it comes to vehicles, but is there a reason to get the expensive ones from the dealer, or is aftermarket just as good (or better?). I'd like to just run to O'reilly's/Autozone, grab a few and slap them in, vs. ordering them online.

Lastly, and this is probably a stupid question, but how many u-joints are there? 2 in the front shaft, 3 in the back?

Who has had this problem and what fixed it? I'm planning on doing the 3 in the rear drive shaft and seeing if that fixes it.

Any links, suggestions, part numbers are welcome. I'm going to be driving 1000 miles next weekend, and (obviously) need to get it fixed before then.

Thanks in advance!

 

What you may be hearing/feeling could just be backlash in the gears...

The best way to check U-joints is to remove the drive shaft to inspect them.... You could jack up the rear and place it on jack stands, with the transmission in neutral rotate the drive line while and listen and look at each universal joint.