replacing universal joints 99.5 Pathfinder

[longball425]

I need to replace my u joints on the drive shaft. I can tell they are shot because they clunk a bit under initial load and you can move the drive shaft a bit by hand. Any advice would be appreciated.

[alexf20c]

you got under the truck yourself and put your hands on the driveshaft and saw the play in the u-joint? you would also get a horrible vibration while driving.

a clunk could be worn upper control arm bushings, or a motor/trans mount. there will always be some "play" in the drive shaft if you try to spin it by hand.

the u-joints don't go out often if at all on R50s, so be double sure before you spend money and start taking things apart.

[longball425]

I actually did- grabbed the shaft and you can move it a bit by hand. Haynes said this could indicate worn U- Joints. The clunk only occurs right after the transmission is under initial load-like taking off from a dead stop. There is no vibration/clunk at all after you get rolling. I have 153K on it and it runs great. I am glad you brought up the point about the motor/trans mount. I will check that out before I rip apart the joints.

thanks

[longball425]

I may have lost my mind. Of course the drive shaft will have play. I am glad I double checked the U joints. They are fine. I will post after I replace the t mount.

thanks again

[guyonabuffalo]

I know this is from 3 years ago, but did you ever replace your transmission mount? I'm having the same problem and after reading some posts on this forum, I'm suspecting that it's the transmission mount that's gone bad.