Double Cardan- squeaking, chirping & grinding

‘01 SR5 Xtracab 4wd V6 5-speed

186k miles w/ all original driveshaft components

OME heavy lift & 33” tires @ 175k miles

The truck has a light vibration at takeoff & a more severe vibration around 45-55 mph. The truck also squeaks & chirps at varying times & conditions, with seemingly no rhyme or reason. There is also a loud, harsh metal grinding noise that occurs when releasing the clutch or letting off the gas. It goes away while accelerating or under load.

Tonight I removed the rear driveshaft & drove truck in 4wd with the rear driveshaft & all of the squeaking, grinding & vibrating was completely nonexistent. Then as I was inspecting the driveshaft I noticed a squeak coming from the double cardan joint.

I do not want to attempt rebuilding the joint myself or replace with a salvage yard joint. What’s the best option? Replacement 1-piece driveshaft or replace/rebuild the double cardan? Does anyone even sell just the double cardan or would it have to be rebuilt?

Edit:

I just inspected the driveshaft again & discovered the cup bearing in the center of the double cardan has a needle zerk fitting. I always lube the entire chassis every 5k miles when changing the oil, but never noticed this zerk. So obviously it’s ran dry & that’s the reason for the issues.

I’m going to buy a needle adapter & grease it with he correct lithium moly grease, but at this point is it beyond saving? Any chance it just needs to be greased or at this point is it almost certain that the bearings inside are bad and/or rusted?

 

I had one go out at about 170k miles. The choice is either rebuild it or find one in a junk yard. Don't think they sell them new in the Toyota flavor. I ended up finding one used.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/double-cardan-part.835528/#post-9567732

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHKCVC4mvwU


Post #10 in this thread has good info and get the parts from Rockauto.com
https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/are-toyota-cv-double-cardan-joints-rebuildable.156646/#post-2393794

Ken

 

So you have 3 options if you want to keep your shaft.

1) rebuild it yourself (there is a write up I'll find) tricky
2) very few but there are some drive line shops can rebuild it
3) have a driveline shop swap the entire double garden joint with a Spicer brand one. That way you can actually find u joints if you ever need

Toyota does not sell the u joints separately and nobody makes an after market joint for it very few drive line shops have access to the u joints needed for rebuild as they come from the factory.

 

The center ball will really squeal when dry. Most times quenching it's thirst for lube will silence the complaining, sometimes not.
The u-joints are available including both size "ball kits". Most 1st gen Tacos use the inside clip style like the other joints but not the same size. Later 1st gens use the outside clip type available only from Rockford Driveline. There are a few joints "listed" by various parts houses as "fits", sometimes they are close but do not fit.
A mic or caliper is going to be your friend here to verify the pin/ball size and the actual sizes of joints some vendor may claim as a fit.
Long version https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/double-cardan-joint.273119/#post-6745013

 

Thanks.

Do you know where I can get the proper needle grease fitting? The local parts store only have a 4” adapter that is too long to fit between the shaft & truck bed. I tried the fitting at different angles but there wasn’t enough clearance unless the zerk was facing up. Maybe the needle was too thick. Is there a specific size needle for that fitting?

 

It's definitely tight I use the typical "fitting/hose" type. Even those can vary a few hundredths in diameter. One will fit, another brand won't.
You could just unbolt the shaft from the diff for more room, best way to check the condition of things anyway. I have to do it that way due to a modification to the pressure relief valve for the center ball.