What are the symptoms of a failing u joint
 

I was reading a post about replacing a u joint and it's balancing. I've never experienced a failure before. RAY M

They can vibrate, squeek or clunk on takeoff and decelleration. On a benz they almost never fail.

Tom W

Well almost never! Check the pic in my thread. http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/208875-w123-u-joint.html.

Look closely at the lower pivot arm on the U-joint and you'll see cracks around the arm. (Tom, do you still have the pic I sent with the arrows? Post it if you can.) The collar moves laterally along this arm. Symptoms are vibration at 25mph and above. The bearing support carrier rubber and flex discs appear ok, but they will be replaced with the new DS.

John

Here's a pic of my U-joint. The pink arrow shows the bad pivot arm.

John

I believe it is the first I have heard of. In my ownership of 30 or so benzes I am pretty sure I have never had one go bad. Prolly near a million miles total running them.

But almost is still almost and that means sometimes they do fail.

Tom W

that's like the joke about seeing somebody with more than the average number of arms walking down the street...

Haven't heard that one. Punch line please.

John