Seized u joint

Just got back from the dealership because my truck was shuddering real bad after a 550 mile trip, and it turns out I had a seized u joint. I've never had this happen on any vehicles in the past. I can usually tell when ones going bad by the rattling sound it makes. Is this a common thing on tacoma's? Anyone else experience this before?

 

What year, how many miles? If your taco's U joints have grease fittings, they have intervals for re-greasing them. Dont quote me, but I believe the Prerunners and 4x4 have the serviceable u joints. I re-lube em up every 6-8 months, should prevent them from seizing unless something else more has gone wrong.

 

It's a 2010 with about 42500 miles on it. I bought it in late February. I never looked at it until today, but it it serviceable. I put that on my list of things to do every few months.

 

Yeah it is just one more of those things to do, your mileage isn't crazy high, I'm sure people on here have forgotten for many more miles than your truck has, but if you have been towing or doing a good amount of off roading, that will be a factor for sure.

 

Zero towing or off roading. I just had my oil changed last week and the dealership said they were inspecting parts for wear and greasing it up, but apparently they did not. I will have to keep a closer eye on what they do from now on. I only got my oil changed there due to it being free. Although they did spill quite a bit of oil on my skid plates. I guess you get what you pay for.

 

That is too bad they didn't catch that. See if your handbook has any info for your particular model and intervals. I would assume its a dealer service item on their list.. but maybe thats giving them too much credit. Once they have it up on their lift it should take them all of 30 seconds to do it.

 

My rear u joint at the diff is starting to squeak pretty good on my 2010. I greased all mine every 6 months or after off roading. It still went bad. I am buying a sealed U joint so I wont have this problem again. You can either buy them from the stealership or get them at napa for about 20 bucks.

 

wow...

You guys need to grease them way more then that. I grease mine every month and make sure you push all the old grease out. I would recommend mobil1 synthetic grease so you can tell when you pushed out the burnt black stuff.

If you keep them greased they should last you forever unless your beating on them. My 08' has seen it's fare share of water/mud/salt with zero issues. Also not a bad idea to keep some int he truck just in case. I have 4HD Moog U joints in my tool box just in case.