I am 600 miles from home with a gooseneck, getting ready to pick up 2 tractors 8-10k total weight. My truck started making a cluink noise when I would come to a stop. Now it makes a bunch of noise when shifting between gears (reverse to drive). I am afraid to put that load on it with it doing this. I guess my questions are How can I verify if they are u-joints? How easy are they to change out? Oh yeah, and it is Sunday, not many service shops open! I should be in Church!! :eek:

if its banging because of u joints you should be able tell be looking at them see if you can see any debris coming out of the joints or park some where level and put park brake on and chock wheels and leave truck in nuetral and see if you can rotate the driveshaft to feel play. best way is to remove shaft and feel them. they arent hard to change but you need some basic tools.

Could it be dry driveshaft slip-yoke splines?
If removing the driveshaft to check the U-joints, grease the splines anyways.

http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=51652&highlight=driveshaft+grease
http://dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=111667&highlight=TSB+splines
http://dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=76399&highlight=TSB+splines
http://dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=30492&highlight=TSB+splines
http://dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123325&highlight=drive+shaft+splines
http://dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=119789&highlight=drive+shaft+splines

Definetly the Rear U-Joint and the carrier. It is a crew cab so a 2 piece shaft? This carrier is shot and has at least a half inch of play in it and so is the rear U-Joints, about a half inch play in it too. I have someone here that says I could use his garage. I see where the U-Bolts are to get the shaft off the rear end yoke. After those are removed, will it push far enogh forward to get off the yoke? If I don't have heat, how else can I remove the joints?

yes it should come off but if you are planning on doing the supprt bearing those are PITA. are the joints held in with that hot melt glue or are they held in with clips. if its glue than you really need to heat them up to get it out. a ball joint press will push them out but sometimes bends the ears in so its hard to get them back together.

Two-Piece Propeller Shaft Replacement
Tools Required
J 43218 Clamp Pliers - Narrow Jaw

Removal Procedure
Important: Observe and accurately reference mark all driveline components relative to the propeller shaft and axles before disassembly. These components include the propeller shafts, the drive axles, the pinion flanges, the output shafts, etc. All components must be reassembled in the exact relationship to each other as they were when removed. In addition, published specifications and torque values, as well as any measurements made prior to disassembly must be followed.

Raise the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle .



Reference mark the rear propeller shaft (3) to the rear axle pinion yoke (4).
Reference mark the front propeller shaft to the transmission or transfer case (slip yoke type) or to the transmission pinion yoke (universal joint type).



Remove the clamp (2) securing the boot (3) to the front propeller shaft stub shaft (4) and the rear propeller shaft slip yoke (1) by prying up the exposed end of the clamp (2) using a flat-bladed tool, if applicable.



Remove the bolts (1) and the yoke retainers (2) from the rear axle pinion yoke (4).
Notice: When removing the propeller shaft, do not attempt to remove the shaft by pounding on the yoke ears or using a tool between the yoke and the universal joint. If the propeller shaft is removed by using such means, the injection joints may fracture and lead to premature failure of the joint.

Slide the rear propeller shaft forward in order to remove the propeller shaft from the rear axle pinion yoke.
Slide the rear propeller shaft rearward in order to disconnect the rear propeller shaft from the front propeller shaft stub shaft.
Remove the rear propeller shaft from the vehicle.
Remove the boot from the front propeller shaft stub shaft, if applicable.



Remove the center bearing support nuts (1).
Remove the center bearing support (2).



Remove the front propeller shaft by sliding the front propeller shaft rearward from the transmission or the transfer case, w/o RPO MW3 or M74.



Remove the bolts and the yoke retainers from the transmission pinion yoke, w/ RPO MW3 or M74.
Remove the front propeller shaft by disconnecting the front propeller shaft from the transmission pinion yoke, w/ RPO MW3 or M74.

Thanks to all that replied. I found a firestone repair center that was open on Sunday and a NAPA. Back on the road! I just had them do the rear joint. I plan on doing all of them and replacing the carier bearing too. The rubber seal around it is craked and worn. So, I will be using all this useful info soon! Going to paint the shaft while it is out too!!! This is a fun load to pull!!! I'm loving my duramax!