• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech

How to tell if u-joints are bad?

  • Thread starter Thread starter 1990LXDropTop
  • Start date Start date Oct 9, 2005
1

1990LXDropTop

New Member
Dec 4, 2003
430
0
0
Western Massachusetts
Oct 9, 2005
#1
  • Oct 9, 2005
  • #1
My car has always made this "clunking" sound coming from directly under the car either when shifting rather hard or cruising in a high gear at low rpms. I thought it was my stock T-5 going bad, so I swapped in a brand new TKO-500 and it still makes the same noise. Its nothing serious, but it does come to my attention. Otherwise I would not be posting about it. I have an FMS aluminum drive shaft that has about 10,000 miles on it. I think it came with new u-joints when I bought it new a couple years ago. Could my u-joints already be going south? I did not notice the "clunking" sound with my stock drive shaft (at least I don't remember hearing it). I think the noise came shortly after I installed the aluminum drive shaft.
 

87GTSnake

Member
Mar 31, 2005
96
0
6
PA
Oct 9, 2005
#2
  • Oct 9, 2005
  • #2
Does it sound like the noise is directly under you or more towards the rear. If its in the rear it could be that the rear control arm bushings are beat. Mine used to clunk when going slow in first gear until i put in my new control arms in.
 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
31,179
34
129
Oct 9, 2005
#3
  • Oct 9, 2005
  • #3
Just grab each side of the DS (with the u-joint in between your hands) and twist and turn (like giving a rub-burn to the DS) and see if you feel slop. Look for caps which look different then the others and rotate the DS and see if you hear anything (when needle bearings turn to dust, it can squeak and give a little bit of slop).

The FRPP DS comes with some nice HD joints. If you need new ones, Spicer is what I would use.

The rear joint tends to go out about twice as often as the front in my experience.

Also note any interferance issues (DS to e-brake, DS to exhaust, etc). WHen you load and unload the drivetrain and suspension, stuff moves around.

Good luck.
 

5.0fox

Member
Feb 10, 2003
410
0
17
buckley/enumclaw wa
Oct 9, 2005
#4
  • Oct 9, 2005
  • #4
i was launching on the street with my dr's and broke a chunk out of the front u -joint. it made a horrible vibration over 50 mph.
 

Zero_chance

Founding Member
May 29, 2001
1,244
7
59
Maricopa, AZ
Oct 10, 2005
#5
  • Oct 10, 2005
  • #5
Yeah like was already said, if theres a vibration at highway speeds along with the clunk then its almost definitely your U joints. Usually the rear goes bad first but if you have the money you might as well replace them both theyre only like 20 dollars and it means you wont have to yank the driveshaft out again. You should check your tranny crossmember too. One of the bushings in mine was pretty much toast and it used to clunk around back when I bought the car.
 
1

1990LXDropTop

New Member
Dec 4, 2003
430
0
0
Western Massachusetts
Oct 10, 2005
#6
  • Oct 10, 2005
  • #6
Zero_chance said:
Yeah like was already said, if theres a vibration at highway speeds along with the clunk then its almost definitely your U joints. Usually the rear goes bad first but if you have the money you might as well replace them both theyre only like 20 dollars and it means you wont have to yank the driveshaft out again. You should check your tranny crossmember too. One of the bushings in mine was pretty much toast and it used to clunk around back when I bought the car.
Click to expand...

There are is no vibration at all on the highway no matter what speed I'm going. My x-member is brand new as I bought a new one when I did my TKO a couple weeks ago.
 

srothfuss

Last night I stabbed the same guy 7 times in a row
Oct 17, 2004
1,796
3
0
Woodward Ave.
Oct 10, 2005
#7
  • Oct 10, 2005
  • #7
If the driveshaft falls out of the car when your driving than chances are your U-joints are bad. (J/K)

Excessive slop or clunking are good indicators.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

S
Car shakes when taking off help???
  • STANKYstangs
  • May 10, 2026
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
Replies
12
Views
334
1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk- May 27, 2026
LILCBRA
Drivetrain Rear end clunk
  • seanmahoney
  • Oct 13, 2025
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
3
Views
419
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Oct 13, 2025
nickyb
W
Electrical 91 GT Alternator Replacement Question
  • willrh111
  • Oct 22, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
6
Views
375
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Oct 23, 2025
nickyb
Sloppy steering wheel
  • cnorman31
  • Nov 1, 2025
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
4
Views
295
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Nov 2, 2025
Monkeybutt2000
M
Drive Shaft/Rear Diff Issue on 2014 GT
  • DudeStang
  • Jun 16, 2025
  • 2010 - 2014 Specific Tech
Replies
11
Views
1K
2010 - 2014 Specific Tech Jan 21, 2026
gkomo
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?