2000 Chevy Tahoe Bad U-Joint

2000 CHEVROLET TAHOE
115,000 MILES • V8 • 4WD • AUTOMATIC
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RYANUNI
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My Tahoe recently began making a repetative light clunking sound from under the truck. It is definatly drive train related and I can only hear it at low speed. I am suspecting my U-Joints as they are OG to the vehicle (still have the plastic gook). I cant tell how to tell if they are bad while on the truck. I did notice that the shaft that transfers power back to the the front transfer case in 4X4 has play (I can move it by hand 1/4in each way) is this normal? How do I troubleshoot my problem.
Oh and one more thing If I do replace my U joints do the stock yokes on this truck accept the spring clips on the bearing ends once the plastic is melted out? Thanks
Jul 23, 2008 at 8:27 PM
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2CARPRO JACK
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Depends on which direction the play is in the front shaft,they will have some up and down where the slip joint is , cant be perfectly tight there, it has to move.Best bet would be to unbolt the driveshaft and move the u-joint by hand to see if you can feel any bad spots.Yes, once the glue is melted out, the spring clips will hold it in
Jul 24, 2008 at 7:38 AM
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RYANUNI
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Thanks, In your opinion based on my description and the age of the vehicle would the U joints be the first place you would suspect? Are there other common sources of driveline noise on these particular vehicles?
Jul 24, 2008 at 7:54 AM
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2CARPRO JACK
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The only thing that comes to mind is the steering intermediate shaft. Sounds like a loose shock when it starts to make noise. Since it is a clunk noise, Brakes are probably not the problem. Start basic and check u-joints and give a good visual inspection
Jul 24, 2008 at 9:30 AM
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RYANUNI
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steering intermediate shaft? I am not familiar with this bit of equipment... How would I find it and inspect it? THanks

Ok I think I know what the shaft is that you are refering to... it connects the bottom of my column to my front end?? If correct I am unsure how this could cause the noise. The noise is a repetative clunking at an even interval that varies with the speed of the vehicle while rolling straight down the road and stops while stopped, as though I had a metal baseball card in my hypothetical spoke
Jul 24, 2008 at 9:46 AM
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RSCHNAK
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My 2004 Chevy Tahoe had the same sounds coming from it last night. I actually sounded like a flat tire. It would fluctuate with the speed and stop when I stopped. It was also intermittent. The noise would last for a few minutes at most and just go away on it's own.

Any suggestions would be helpful for this.
Feb 28, 2009 at 11:59 AM