The Ford Barn

B_man_Al · 08-27-2013, 09:49 AM

Anyone with a good method of diagnosing a U joint fault on a model B? I suspect the U joint based on what I think is excessive vibration at higher speeds (above 35 -40 MPH) . THe car has 70k miles, and I think its still the original.

Al

1931 flamingo · 08-27-2013, 10:26 AM

A or B no difference. Try putting on jacks, run it, listen u/neath with stethascope??
More info needed, where do you suspect vib coming from??
Paul in CT

Patrick L. · 08-27-2013, 10:39 AM

Is the frequency of the vibration with the wheels or engine ? Usually a u-joint will show itself at a low power cruise and decel.

john charlton · 08-27-2013, 11:11 AM

If the UJ is worn you will more vibration on the over run when the engine is being back driven by the rear wheels .If the Hyatt bearing in the torque tube neck is worn it too causes the same vibration .The UJ could still be good but the bearing/sleeve could be worn. You can check the state of the bearing by removing the speedo drive cap from the torque tube and try to push the spiral gear up and down there should be very little or no "up or down" .It is a bit of a fiddle to do but does work as my cabriolet had the same problem.I changed the sleeve and bearing and no more vibration.

John in sunny Suffolk County England .

B_man_Al · 08-27-2013, 11:28 AM

I would say the vibration is at the engine speed , and more pronounced on deceleration.

I've always thought it was just exhaust noise from the muffler because of the lack of any rubber isolation along the way, particularly at the back where it goes through the cross member. After changing the exhaust out with a new one, there was no noticable change in vibration.

I put new front drake motor mounts which improved things quit a bit, but it still seems too noisy to me

Tom Wesenberg · 08-27-2013, 01:16 PM

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I would shift to high and crawl under the car with one rear wheel jacked up, then have someone jerk the wheel back and forth to see if you can hear or feel any looseness in the U-joint area.

Reds34 · 08-27-2013, 08:02 PM

Tom,

While the car is off, correct?

Red

Tom Wesenberg · 08-28-2013, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reds34

Tom,

While the car is off, correct?

Red

Yes

08-27-2013, 09:49 AM	#1
B_man_Al Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Ottawa ON Canada Posts: 301	U Joint Problem Diagnosis Anyone with a good method of diagnosing a U joint fault on a model B? I suspect the U joint based on what I think is excessive vibration at higher speeds (above 35 -40 MPH) . THe car has 70k miles, and I think its still the original. Al

08-27-2013, 10:26 AM	#2
1931 flamingo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: new britain,ct 06052 Posts: 9,390	Re: U Joint Problem Diagnosis A or B no difference. Try putting on jacks, run it, listen u/neath with stethascope?? More info needed, where do you suspect vib coming from?? Paul in CT

08-27-2013, 10:39 AM	#3
Patrick L. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Largo Florida Posts: 7,225	Re: U Joint Problem Diagnosis Is the frequency of the vibration with the wheels or engine ? Usually a u-joint will show itself at a low power cruise and decel.

08-27-2013, 11:11 AM	#4
john charlton Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,304	Re: U Joint Problem Diagnosis If the UJ is worn you will more vibration on the over run when the engine is being back driven by the rear wheels .If the Hyatt bearing in the torque tube neck is worn it too causes the same vibration .The UJ could still be good but the bearing/sleeve could be worn. You can check the state of the bearing by removing the speedo drive cap from the torque tube and try to push the spiral gear up and down there should be very little or no "up or down" .It is a bit of a fiddle to do but does work as my cabriolet had the same problem.I changed the sleeve and bearing and no more vibration. John in sunny Suffolk County England .

08-27-2013, 11:28 AM	#5
B_man_Al Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Ottawa ON Canada Posts: 301	Re: U Joint Problem Diagnosis I would say the vibration is at the engine speed , and more pronounced on deceleration. I've always thought it was just exhaust noise from the muffler because of the lack of any rubber isolation along the way, particularly at the back where it goes through the cross member. After changing the exhaust out with a new one, there was no noticable change in vibration. I put new front drake motor mounts which improved things quit a bit, but it still seems too noisy to me

08-27-2013, 01:16 PM	#6
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: U Joint Problem Diagnosis Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I would shift to high and crawl under the car with one rear wheel jacked up, then have someone jerk the wheel back and forth to see if you can hear or feel any looseness in the U-joint area.

08-27-2013, 08:02 PM	#7
Reds34 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Eastern, CT Posts: 527	Re: U Joint Problem Diagnosis Tom, While the car is off, correct? Red