Detroit axle mystery

[Nomojeep]

I'd like to hear from anyone with experience with a front driveshaft from Detroit Axle (formerly Dearborn Axle). I recently got one from them and as soon as I put it in I was getting a light clicking/ almost grinding sound sort of like needle bearings getting chewed up in a u-joint. They sent me a warranty replacement and this one does the same thing. I know they probably don't use top shelf components but I don't think two of them should be like that right out of the box. I should say that this noise is not there with the driveshaft removed. Does anyone know if their u-joints are just that bad or is it some kid on an assembly line not really too swift at installing u-joints? I'm thinking about buying a decent quality u-joint to see if that fixes it.

 

[bill06447]

Two in a row? Something else is wrong-start poking around at the front pinion bearing, transfer case output bearing, etc.

Bill

 

[Nomojeep]

I was kinda afraid someone was gonna say something like that. I had actually thought of those two things (from research) but I didn't wanna mention it and make it too easy for someone to jump on that bandwagon. Thanks for your input Bill, I think you're all over that one.

 

[SoNic67]

I have bought wheel hubs from Detroit Axle - front ones for Explorer, rear ones for Hyundai Sonata, front for Mercury Sable. No issues with any of those.

For the driveshafts - did you have to put lube inside the U-Joints before installation?
I replaced my U-Joints and CV-joint in both my front and rear driveshafts and I know that I had the option to buy ones that had a Zerk fitting to be filled with lube after install. Needles to say - I used Moog joints on my truck.

 

[drdoom]

May I ask why the old shaft was replaced?

 

[Nomojeep]

I have bought wheel hubs from Detroit Axle - front ones for Explorer, rear ones for Hyundai Sonata, front for Mercury Sable. No issues with any of those.

For the driveshafts - did you have to put lube inside the U-Joints before installation?
I replaced my U-Joints and CV-joint in both my front and rear driveshafts and I know that I had the option to buy ones that had a Zerk fitting to be filled with lube after install. Needles to say - I used Moog joints on my truck.

They were already greased.

 

[Nomojeep]

May I ask why the old shaft was replaced?

The old cv boot was torn and the cv was starting to click and was kinda sloppy. At the time I wasn't aware you could replace the factory cv joint yourself. I know better now but I had already bought a new one. No big deal though, it wasn't much more than the parts to rebuild it would have cost.