ArdWrknTrk Posted February 16 Share Posted February 16 Years ago I met and 'wheeled with a guy who had a '70s vintage Toyota Land Cruiser. He was really excited because he had just installed a kit that swapped single Cardan joints in to replace the factory CV joints in his front axle! Those things had the really weird big ball joint front axle??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nothing Special Posted February 16 Share Posted February 16 Those things had the really weird big ball joint front axle??? Probably. It's called a Birfield joint. I'm pretty sure it involves a big ball. They're known for not being very strong when operating through a larger angle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArdWrknTrk Posted February 16 Share Posted February 16 Probably. It's called a Birfield joint. I'm pretty sure it involves a big ball. They're known for not being very strong when operating through a larger angle Those earlier LC had a strong following back then in southern Africa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nilknarf007 Posted March 5 Author Share Posted March 5 When you turn the wheels the universal at the hub is necessarily going to be at a more acute angle than the fixed angle between the center case and the control arm or beam First off, thank you to everyone that offered suggestions. Today was the first time I was able to get the truck on a lift so I could put it in gear and let the wheels turn. I'm going to be honest, I poo-poo-ed the U-joint problem because I had already checked everything thing in the drive train and the suspension for play. There was none, so I moved on trying to find a different solution. However, getting the truck on a lift taught me that the front drive shaft is like a giant wind chime - any noise connected to it amplifies the noise and makes it hard to track down. Out of frustration, I removed the drive shaft and made a discovery that I'm sure all of you will laugh at, but was a first time for me. Bad u-joints don't always have play in them. Sometime they just seize. That's what mine did. Replaced, and running fine. Maybe next time I'll listen a little better. Thanks again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mat in tn Posted March 5 Share Posted March 5 First off, thank you to everyone that offered suggestions. Today was the first time I was able to get the truck on a lift so I could put it in gear and let the wheels turn. I'm going to be honest, I poo-poo-ed the U-joint problem because I had already checked everything thing in the drive train and the suspension for play. There was none, so I moved on trying to find a different solution. However, getting the truck on a lift taught me that the front drive shaft is like a giant wind chime - any noise connected to it amplifies the noise and makes it hard to track down. Out of frustration, I removed the drive shaft and made a discovery that I'm sure all of you will laugh at, but was a first time for me. Bad u-joints don't always have play in them. Sometime they just seize. That's what mine did. Replaced, and running fine. Maybe next time I'll listen a little better. Thanks again! glad that you found it. and yes, u joints can fail in many ways. most often from neglect. did you install greaseable units so service can be done? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted March 5 Share Posted March 5 First off, thank you to everyone that offered suggestions. Today was the first time I was able to get the truck on a lift so I could put it in gear and let the wheels turn. I'm going to be honest, I poo-poo-ed the U-joint problem because I had already checked everything thing in the drive train and the suspension for play. There was none, so I moved on trying to find a different solution. However, getting the truck on a lift taught me that the front drive shaft is like a giant wind chime - any noise connected to it amplifies the noise and makes it hard to track down. Out of frustration, I removed the drive shaft and made a discovery that I'm sure all of you will laugh at, but was a first time for me. Bad u-joints don't always have play in them. Sometime they just seize. That's what mine did. Replaced, and running fine. Maybe next time I'll listen a little better. Thanks again! Congratulations! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArdWrknTrk Posted March 5 Share Posted March 5 First off, thank you to everyone that offered suggestions. Today was the first time I was able to get the truck on a lift so I could put it in gear and let the wheels turn. I'm going to be honest, I poo-poo-ed the U-joint problem because I had already checked everything thing in the drive train and the suspension for play. There was none, so I moved on trying to find a different solution. However, getting the truck on a lift taught me that the front drive shaft is like a giant wind chime - any noise connected to it amplifies the noise and makes it hard to track down. Out of frustration, I removed the drive shaft and made a discovery that I'm sure all of you will laugh at, but was a first time for me. Bad u-joints don't always have play in them. Sometime they just seize. That's what mine did. Replaced, and running fine. Maybe next time I'll listen a little better. Thanks again! I'm glad you found the problem. I've been driving with only the front since my knee recovered enough to work the clutch. Those front axles will definitely bind up on dry(ish) pavement while turning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nilknarf007 Posted March 5 Author Share Posted March 5 I'm glad you found the problem. I've been driving with only the front since my knee recovered enough to work the clutch. Those front axles will definitely bind up on dry(ish) pavement while turning. Yes sir, I now have grease fittings! I will also continue my lifetime streak of never driving on pavement in 4WD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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