What Brand Ujoints Do You Use?

Dave, I grab the DS before and after the U-joint and twist against eachother (like giving it an Indian Rug burn). Look for any slop as you twist in each direction.

The needles can dry out, but that normally just causes a noisy joint (that is often perfectly tight in my experience).

I seem to recall a loaded and non-loaded side with zerk fitting U-joints but I'd have to look up which way it's supposed to be (if that even applies here - that was generic info from way back when).

If it was smooth after the u-joint install before, it shouldnt be a DS imbalance issue that I can tell, unless the thing threw a weight or got bent (surprisingly easy to have happen).

A driveline shop can dynamically balance it if you desire (and know it's the cause). If the DS is removed, they can probably check it for trueness.

Perhaps the tailshaft bearing went south?

Good luck and bump.

I gotcha. Yep, the DS is in the car. You grab the DS on each side of the U-joint and twist in opposing directions. There should be NO slop at all. Any slop can translate into run-out, which causes imbalance. A bent shaft can cause imbalance too though (like when the washing machine clumps all the clothes on one side of the basket).

If it's that bad, it should be easy to spot. I'd muscle all the drivetrain components from the trans on back (checking mounts and stuff too).

I will say that I'm just kinda talkin about what you mentioned because I've never felt jerkin from bad U-joints, and you have (so you have a better feel for the particular issue than I obviously do).

Oh, if you do replace them, Spicers are pretty decent (brand-wise). My last ones were just whatever HD units the parts store had (Brute Force, perhaps?).

Good luck bud.