U-Joints.

Ok.....I'm being a lazy butt today. The weather is 34 degrees with rain changing to snow. I just don't want to crawl around under the truck.

My problem is a mild shudder when leaving a stop. The truck has 110,000 miles, lived on a gravel road with PO. I just greased the joints, the shudder reduced but remains present. All indications showed this was the 1st lube on the joints.

I believe the likely culprit are the U-joints. Yes, I need to verify by checking for driveshaft movement, but not today.

The truck details are '06 V6, 4WD, Access cab, Sport. I think the U-joints need to be replaced. I figure if I'm doing 1, then doing all is just a little more effort. The joints are not expensive.

My questions. RockAuto has quite a selection of joints. I'm not sure which ones to get. I'm thinking Heavy Duty greaseable.
Which U-joints are the right ones?
Are the joints on the front shaft the same as the rear shaft?
Brand-wise, thinking SKF or ACDelco......others?

 

$32 Spicer 5-1330-1X U-Joint Kit

Spicer 5-1330-1X joints. Thats exactly what came on the truck in the rear. currently 32 bucks on Amazon. May as well do the carrier bearing while you are that deep as well.


Front joints are smaller ones so the 1330's wont fit.

 

Good point on the Carrier Bearing.

Do you know the size for the front shaft???

 

I went by NAPA today to get rear U-Joints and the guy behind the counter said there is no direct replacement for the center u joint (09' 4x4 Access Cab). I would have to go to the dealership or a place that specialized in drive shafts.... It seems like everyone on here just gets three (or 5 if they're going for the front too) and goes for it.

Anyone run into this? Can anyone confirm the rear 3 U- Joints are the same size?

 

I think the center joint is non greasable
OEM I went the same for all three in the rear. The rear was just balanced by Drivelines NW no issues.

$24 Spicer 5-153x U-Joint - Individual

Spicer 5-153x is what I used for the front. Rear I used Moog-270 I think, not sure as idk about my rock auto history but found a box of that laying around.

 

Hmm..... not very affirmative answers.

Remember the NAPA guy only knows what the computer database spits out.

Think I'll wander into Toyota dealer on Monday for a detail quote with part numbers.

I'll post up what details I can get.

BTW, the cold rain morphed into 4" of heavy white stuff. Nothing like ice under snow, then it becomes greasy sno-pack.

 

$26 Spicer 5-213X U-Joint Kit 1330 Series (OSR)

https://www.amazon.com/Spicer-5-213...&keywords=SPICER+5-213x&qid=1607787439&sr=8-1

 

I would most certainly get the vehicle up off the ground and gear boxes in neutral to make sure they are indeed bad before buying the parts. Grease slip joint too of course. Be careful of course, if you dont have it up on 4 jack stands, you don't want it to roll over you. Spicer brand joints are high quality stuff. I had no idea that's what comes on them from factory.

 

@gearcruncher , Thanks, that clarifies a bunch of questions about the rear shaft. All 3 positions use the same U-joint.
The Front shaft joint is up in the air. Hoping its the same as the other 3.

@tacotoe , Thanks for the heads up on safety. No concerns in that area. My background and work history have burned safety into my daily activities.

As I have said, the truck lived on a gravel road for the majority of its life before it came to me. Gravel dust is very abrasive and will penetrate even the best seals. I wouldn't call replacing U-joints an expensive or difficult repair. I would rather replace then deal with a failure. So, I figure all the U-joints (and Carrier Bearing) have seen the same living conditions, environment and mileage. If I'm doing 1, then doing all isn't much more effort or expense.

My attitude on this type of maintenance can be summed up in a simple thought.....

"If I don't have time to do it right the first time, then when will I have time to do it right the second time?"

 

Yeah, I know he wasnt a SME on all things tacoma, but he showed me the tattered U Joint book and it didn't give him any answers. I'll keep poking around and see what I come up with.

 

All true! And I'm the same way on replacing one may as well replace them all! As I've gotten a little older I've also come to the appreciate the saying, "if it ain't broke don't fix it". I recently replaced all the u-joints on drive shaft and axle shafts on old car I'm working on. Interesting after a little research on u-joints, because I thought surely I want the grease able type, but the non grease type are actually stronger from not being cross drilled. Better for my car application but probably not so for our trucks.

 

The Spicer driveshafts on your 2006 use 5 of the same size universal joints , however , if I had my choice , I would purchase 2 universal joints for the front driveshaft with grease zerks in the caps . Its going to make things far easier too grease at every oil change . You gotta be a contortionist to get the grease line into the front driveshaft zerks
Some guys dont like the grease zerk in the cap cuz you can rip them off when 4 wheeling . Thats a chance i would be willing to take

 

Absolutely agree on the joints being greaseable and the zerks located on the end caps.

I don't off-road, so little concern for shearing off the zerks.

All joints are the same???

 

Yes sir

$26 Spicer 5-213X U-Joint Kit 1330 Series (OSR)

https://www.amazon.com/Spicer-5-213...&keywords=SPICER+5-213x&qid=1607787439&sr=8-1

 

The chart shows "AU" configuration for 2006 Tacoma V6 4x4 which indicates three u-joints

$32 5-1330-1X U-Joint Kit

5-1330-1X for the rear drive shaft and one for the front drive shaft.

The chart for "AU" configuration is incorrect because there are two u-joints for the front drive shaft instead of one. It doesn't provide the PN for the front drive shaft u-joints ... does any know what it is?
I don't plan to change the u-joints for the front drive shaft, but I might keep them in my garage for spare parts.