Can driveshaft U-joints go 200k + ?

My 2006 2wd 4-cylinder access cab is driven 90% on the street, the other 10% is graded gravel roads. All moderate/gentle driving, I almost never "push" this thing hard. It hauls dirt bikes and camping gear about 15 times per year, and rarely tows anything. It's got 120k and everything looks, feels and sounds fine. Mechanically I think it is near perfect. I've researched but haven't seen any service interval or service life for the driveshaft u-joints. If they keep working smoothly and quietly, I think they will go 200k... and potentially more, but I would definitely replace them at 200k.

I don't understand why they didn't install u-joints with grease nipples. A lame way to save 8 cents, methinks.

Anyway, just wondering if those who know these drivetrains think that 200k on factory u-joints, under light service, would be pushing my luck. Thanks

 

time to replace them I betcha. Its a cheap 150-200 piece of mind

 

greaseable ones can go a million miles

non-greaseable ones go until they develop slop felt when truck is frame lifted and you manually twist on the prop

 

How can you tell if the slop is in the differential gear or in the u-joints?

 

My 2000 prerunner with 202k miles has the original greasable u joints still

 

I'm 500mi away from 200k and the ujoints actually feel pretty good. The diff has slop though.

 

Depending on use obviously, and care to a lesser extent... I'd say more than likely. You know how many old school RWD cars went to the junkyard with 100k+, never ever having being greased or cared for?

Now if you dunk yours in water or mud regularly all bets are off.

 

I had 175,000 on mine when I traded it in and had no issues. To tell if the slop is the joint or the diff..... Block your wheels, put your trans in neutral, crawl under and rotate your drive shaft by hand, watch the joints. If there is slop, you'll see it,

 

@ 200,000 miles all original joints

 

The so called "slop" in the gears is by design and is called backlash not slop. It is bad if too much or too little is present.

Good read here:

https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-backlash-in-gears-How-is-it-advantageous-or-disadvantageous

 

I'm aware, mine is excessive. I'm not worried though, I plan to regear and if it blows up it'll make me finally pull the trigger.