{"id":23422,"date":"2021-02-22T03:00:26","date_gmt":"2021-02-22T11:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogv2prod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/?p=23422"},"modified":"2025-05-22T20:12:04","modified_gmt":"2025-05-23T03:12:04","slug":"the-top-3-bad-u-joint-symptoms-is-it-time-for-a-replacement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/the-top-3-bad-u-joint-symptoms-is-it-time-for-a-replacement\/","title":{"rendered":"The Top 3 Bad U-Joint Symptoms: Is it Time for a Replacement?"},"content":{"rendered":"<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 4<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><style>.kadence-column23422_90bd61-25 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column23422_90bd61-25 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column23422_90bd61-25 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column23422_90bd61-25 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column23422_90bd61-25 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column23422_90bd61-25 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column23422_90bd61-25{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column23422_90bd61-25 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column23422_90bd61-25 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column23422_90bd61-25 inner-column-1 qk-look-widget\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-row ultp-block-067b61  qk-main-wrap\"><div class=\"ultp-row-wrapper\"><div class=\"ultp-row-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-column ultp-block-c4c151\"><div class=\"ultp-column-wrapper\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading23422_d6ec42-c2, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading23422_d6ec42-c2[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading23422_d6ec42-c2\"]{text-align:center;font-size:20px;font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading23422_d6ec42-c2 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading23422_d6ec42-c2[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading23422_d6ec42-c2\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-family:Inter;font-weight:500;font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading23422_d6ec42-c2 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading23422_d6ec42-c2[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading23422_d6ec42-c2\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"kt-adv-heading23422_d6ec42-c2 summary-title wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading23422_d6ec42-c2\"><span>Summary<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Vibrations, squeaking or clicking noises, and clunking sounds are telltale signs of a bad u-joint.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Driving with a bad u-joint increases the risk of driveshaft failure, which can result in major vehicle damage.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Most u-joint replacements cost less than $50. Having a professional replace this faulty part can cost you anywhere between $200 and $450.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>If you have a rear-wheel drive, four-wheel drive, or all-wheel drive vehicle, its driveshaft likely contains one or more universal joints (u-joints). Because the u-joints have a tough life and are often neglected, they tend to have a high failure rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Faulty u-joints are usually accompanied by symptoms, such as strange noises and vibrations. You&rsquo;ll want to address the issue right away to keep your vehicle safe and reliable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/automotive-u-joint-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"automotive u joint\" class=\"wp-image-23448\" style=\"width:1024px;height:683px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/automotive-u-joint-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/automotive-u-joint-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/automotive-u-joint-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/automotive-u-joint-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/automotive-u-joint-scaled.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/automotive-u-joint-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/automotive-u-joint-150x100.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">U-joints allow driveshafts to move up and down in response to changes in the vehicle&rsquo;s suspension geometry.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Most Common Signs of Bad U-Joints<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Although u-joints are sometimes found in other applications, they&rsquo;re mostly used in driveshafts (also known as propeller shafts). All vehicles&mdash;except those that are front-wheel drive&mdash;use one or more driveshafts to transfer rotational force from the transmission (or transfer case) to the differential (s).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"article-search-widget\">\n<div class=\"cp-search\">\n<div align=\"center\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cld.partsimg.com\/image\/upload\/w_auto,dpr_auto\/carparts\/logos\/badge_wordmark\/full_color\/CP_LOGO_COLOUR_RGB\" alt=\"CarParts.com\" width=\"300\" height=\"56\">\n<\/div>\n<form id=\"cpsearchform\" name=\"cpsearchform\" action=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/search\" method=\"get\" target=\"_blank\" accept-charset=\"character_set\" aria-label=\"search CarParts.com\">\n    <input type=\"text\" class=\"keyword\" name=\"q\" placeholder=\"Search for parts on CarParts.com\" value=\"\" aria-label=\"Search CarParts.com\"><input type=\"submit\" class=\"btn-search\" value=\"Search\" aria-label=\"Search\">\n<\/form>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Most driveshafts have one or more u-joints. The u-joints allow the driveshaft to move up and down in response to changes in the vehicle&rsquo;s suspension geometry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A typical u-joint consists of a cross-shaped center portion (called a trunion) and four cups filled with needle bearings. The cups also contain grease to keep the needle bearings lubricated. Serviceable u-joints, which are those that have grease fittings, should be greased regularly to extend their service life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n    <div class=\"ai-summary-widget\">\n\n        <div class=\"ai-summary-grid\">\n\n            <div>\n                <div class=\"ai-avatar\">\n                    <figure>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cld.partsimg.com\/image\/upload\/q_auto,dpr_auto,f_auto\/carparts\/blog\/widgets\/ai-summary\/ai-bot\" alt=\"AI robot\">\n                    <\/figure>\n                    <span>ELI5<\/span>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <div>\n                <p>Imagine the driveshaft is a gymnast on a balance beam, gracefully transferring energy from one end to the other. The u-joints are like the gymnast's flexible joints, allowing her to bend and twist as she moves. When the car hits a bump, it's like the gymnast needing to adjust her posture to stay balanced. Thanks to the u-joints, the driveshaft can handle these changes. Inside each u-joint, there are tiny bearings, like well-oiled gears in the gymnast's joints, helping everything move smoothly. The grease in the u-joints acts like the gymnast's energy drink, keeping her fueled and ready to perform. If the u-joints have a refill spot, like a water bottle for the gymnast, they need regular \"sips\" of grease to stay in top shape. Without these flexible joints, the gymnast or driveshaft couldn't perform the way they need to.<\/p>    \n            <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n\n        <div class=\"ai-summary-tooltip\">   \n            <p>Not everyone is an auto repair expert. <strong>ELI5 (&ldquo;Explain Like I&rsquo;m Five&rdquo;)<\/strong> provides layperson-friendly explanations of complex automotive concepts, systems, &amp; parts, so you can fully understand their importance. Great for casual car owners and DIY beginners! Powered by AI.<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The animation below demonstrates how u-joints operate:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Universal joint mechanism\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Tjn5BAqSb2Q?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>U-joints can fail for a variety of reasons, including a lack of lubrication, corrosion, and regular wear and tear. When a u-joint starts to fail, you&rsquo;ll likely notice one or more of the following symptoms:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Vibrations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the most common signs of a bad driveshaft u-joint is a vibration that&rsquo;s felt throughout the vehicle. Usually, the sensation is the most noticeable at highway speeds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Squeaking or Clicking Noise<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>What does a bad u-joint sound like? A u-joint that&rsquo;s dry (from a lack of grease) or worn out will usually make a cyclical squeaking or clicking sound. Because a typical driveshaft operates around three times faster than the wheels, the noise does not directly correspond to the rotational speed of the tires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Clunking Sound<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Worn u-joints can also make a clunking sound. You may hear the noise when changing gears or when rapidly accelerating or decelerating. In many cases, the noise is the most noticeable when shifting an automatic transmission out of park or switching it between forward and reverse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"685\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/u-joint-of-a-vehicle-1024x685.jpg\" alt=\"u joint of a vehicle\" class=\"wp-image-23449\" style=\"width:1024px;height:685px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/u-joint-of-a-vehicle-1024x685.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/u-joint-of-a-vehicle-300x201.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/u-joint-of-a-vehicle-768x514.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/u-joint-of-a-vehicle-1536x1028.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/u-joint-of-a-vehicle-scaled.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/u-joint-of-a-vehicle-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/u-joint-of-a-vehicle-150x100.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">If you choose to have a professional replace one of your u-joints, you can usually expect to pay somewhere between $200 and $450 to get the job done.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How To Check U-Joints<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If your vehicle shows any of these bad u-joint symptoms, it&rsquo;s best to inspect it. However, checking u-joints can be difficult. It involves removing the entire driveline, so if you aren&rsquo;t confident in your DIY automotive skills, it&rsquo;s best to ask a trusted mechanic to conduct the inspection to avoid any complications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A general inspection will include testing the universal joint&rsquo;s resistance and checking the parts for rust. If the joint isn&rsquo;t exhibiting the correct amount of resistance, or if it&rsquo;s badly rusted, it can show the aforementioned symptoms. Once your mechanic is able to inspect the part, they should be able to give you a diagnosis and propose a solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Long Can You Drive With a Bad U-Joint?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you think you might be dealing with a bad u-joint, you should address the problem right away. A u-joint that fails completely can cause the driveshaft to fall out of the undercarriage, potentially causing significant damage to the vehicle and even an accident, maybe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A bad universal joint on a car can also lead to an uncomfortable drive. The vibrations in the driveline can build up to a bumpy ride every time you go out. For your comfort and safety, it&rsquo;s best to replace a bad u-joint as soon as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">U-Joint Replacement Cost<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>U-joints are usually serviceable components that can be replaced without having to swap out the entire driveshaft. If you choose to have a professional replace one of your u-joints, you can usually expect to pay somewhere between $200 and $450 to get the job done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can save money by replacing the u-joint yourself if you have the tools and know-how. Most replacement u-joints cost less than $50. Of course, the exact price will depend on various factors, such as the year, make, and model of your vehicle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&rsquo;re looking for quality u-joints for trucks or u-joints for cars, check out the wide selection available through our online catalog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where to Get Durable U-Joints for Your Vehicle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>U-joints are a key component of a vehicle&rsquo;s drivetrain. If it develops issues, it can cause the driveshaft to fall out, which can result in significant damage. Good thing you can get the u-joint you need for your vehicle here at CarParts.com.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Look no further because CarParts.com is a one-stop shop for all sorts of aftermarket parts, including u-joints. We source our parts from the most trusted aftermarket brands, so you know they&rsquo;re high quality and built to last. Our replacement u-joints are also competitively priced, so you can fix your vehicle without breaking the bank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Don&rsquo;t wait until your u-joint fails because that can lead to an accident. Browse our selection of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/u-joint\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"u-joints\">u-joints<\/a> and enjoy our fast shipping when you shop at CarParts.com now.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 4<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span>If you have a rear-wheel drive, four-wheel drive, or all-wheel drive vehicle, its driveshaft likely contains one or more universal&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/the-top-3-bad-u-joint-symptoms-is-it-time-for-a-replacement\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1643,"featured_media":23450,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[52,3757],"tags":[2888],"ppma_author":[2622],"class_list":{"0":"post-23422","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-diy","8":"category-drivetrain","9":"tag-u-joint","10":"entry"},"acf":{"adrotate_specific_mobile_ad":"","adrotate_specific_desktop_ad":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The Top 3 Bad U-Joint Symptoms: Is it Time for a Replacement? - In The Garage with CarParts.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Bad u-joints have several symptoms, including squeaking, clicking, and clunking noises. Read more to learn the signs of bad u-joints.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/the-top-3-bad-u-joint-symptoms-is-it-time-for-a-replacement\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Top 3 Bad U-Joint Symptoms: Is it Time for a Replacement? - In The Garage with CarParts.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Bad u-joints have several symptoms, including squeaking, clicking, and clunking noises. Read more to learn the signs of bad u-joints.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/the-top-3-bad-u-joint-symptoms-is-it-time-for-a-replacement\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"In The Garage with CarParts.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/carpartscom\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-02-22T11:00:26+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-05-23T03:12:04+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/u-joint-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2048\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1365\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Mia Bevacqua, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@carpartscom\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@carpartscom\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Mia Bevacqua, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/the-top-3-bad-u-joint-symptoms-is-it-time-for-a-replacement\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/the-top-3-bad-u-joint-symptoms-is-it-time-for-a-replacement\\\/\"},\"author\":[{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"$id\":\"1643\",\"name\":\"Mia Bevacqua\",\"jobTitle\":\"ASE Master Automobile Technician\",\"description\":\"Mia Bevacqua has over 14 years of experience in the auto industry and holds a bachelor\u2019s degree in Advanced Automotive Systems. Certifications include ASE Master Automobile Technician, Master Medium\\\/Heavy Truck Technician, L1, L2, L3, and L4 Advanced Level Specialist. Mia loves fixer-upper oddballs, like her 1987 Cavalier Z-24 and 1998 Astro Van AWD.\",\"knowsAbout\":\"Auto Repair, Car Maintenance, Auto Parts, Car Reviews\",\"publishingPrinciples\":\"\\\/blog\\\/our-team\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/miabevacqua\",\"sameAs\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/in\\\/mia-bevacqua-55b3a485\"}],\"headline\":\"The Top 3 Bad U-Joint Symptoms: Is it Time for a Replacement?\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-02-22T11:00:26+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-05-23T03:12:04+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/the-top-3-bad-u-joint-symptoms-is-it-time-for-a-replacement\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":969,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/the-top-3-bad-u-joint-symptoms-is-it-time-for-a-replacement\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/02\\\/u-joint-scaled.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"u-joint\"],\"articleSection\":[\"DIY\",\"Drivetrain\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/the-top-3-bad-u-joint-symptoms-is-it-time-for-a-replacement\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/the-top-3-bad-u-joint-symptoms-is-it-time-for-a-replacement\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/the-top-3-bad-u-joint-symptoms-is-it-time-for-a-replacement\\\/\",\"name\":\"The Top 3 Bad U-Joint Symptoms: Is it Time for a Replacement? - In The Garage with CarParts.com\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/the-top-3-bad-u-joint-symptoms-is-it-time-for-a-replacement\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/the-top-3-bad-u-joint-symptoms-is-it-time-for-a-replacement\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/02\\\/u-joint-scaled.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-02-22T11:00:26+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-05-23T03:12:04+00:00\",\"description\":\"Bad u-joints have several symptoms, including squeaking, clicking, and clunking noises. Read more to learn the signs of bad u-joints.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/the-top-3-bad-u-joint-symptoms-is-it-time-for-a-replacement\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/the-top-3-bad-u-joint-symptoms-is-it-time-for-a-replacement\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/02\\\/u-joint-scaled.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/02\\\/u-joint-scaled.jpg\",\"width\":2048,\"height\":1365,\"caption\":\"u joint\"},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"In The Garage with CarParts.com\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"CarParts.com\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/cp-itg-logo.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/cp-itg-logo.png\",\"width\":2048,\"height\":398,\"caption\":\"CarParts.com\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/carpartscom\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/carpartscom\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/carpartscom\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/@CarPartscomOfficial\\\/\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/24fe92f285c72928a6fcb1acb4120275\",\"name\":\"Mia Bevacqua\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/11\\\/mia-bevacqua-chief-mechanic.png941b63fd087354398e10f659516b809a\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/11\\\/mia-bevacqua-chief-mechanic.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/11\\\/mia-bevacqua-chief-mechanic.png\",\"caption\":\"Mia Bevacqua\"},\"description\":\"Mia Bevacqua has over 14 years of experience in the auto industry and holds a bachelor\u2019s degree in Advanced Automotive Systems. Certifications include ASE Master Automobile Technician, Master Medium\\\/Heavy Truck Technician, L1, L2, L3, and L4 Advanced Level Specialist. Mia loves fixer-upper oddballs, like her 1987 Cavalier Z-24 and 1998 Astro Van AWD.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/miabevacqua\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/in\\\/mia-bevacqua-55b3a485\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/miabevacqua\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"The Top 3 Bad U-Joint Symptoms: Is it Time for a Replacement? - In The Garage with CarParts.com","description":"Bad u-joints have several symptoms, including squeaking, clicking, and clunking noises. Read more to learn the signs of bad u-joints.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/the-top-3-bad-u-joint-symptoms-is-it-time-for-a-replacement\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"The Top 3 Bad U-Joint Symptoms: Is it Time for a Replacement? - In The Garage with CarParts.com","og_description":"Bad u-joints have several symptoms, including squeaking, clicking, and clunking noises. Read more to learn the signs of bad u-joints.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/the-top-3-bad-u-joint-symptoms-is-it-time-for-a-replacement\/","og_site_name":"In The Garage with CarParts.com","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/carpartscom","article_published_time":"2021-02-22T11:00:26+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-05-23T03:12:04+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2048,"height":1365,"url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/u-joint-scaled.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Mia Bevacqua, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@carpartscom","twitter_site":"@carpartscom","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Mia Bevacqua, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/the-top-3-bad-u-joint-symptoms-is-it-time-for-a-replacement\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/the-top-3-bad-u-joint-symptoms-is-it-time-for-a-replacement\/"},"author":[{"@type":"Person","$id":"1643","name":"Mia Bevacqua","jobTitle":"ASE Master Automobile Technician","description":"Mia Bevacqua has over 14 years of experience in the auto industry and holds a bachelor\u2019s degree in Advanced Automotive Systems. Certifications include ASE Master Automobile Technician, Master Medium\/Heavy Truck Technician, L1, L2, L3, and L4 Advanced Level Specialist. Mia loves fixer-upper oddballs, like her 1987 Cavalier Z-24 and 1998 Astro Van AWD.","knowsAbout":"Auto Repair, Car Maintenance, Auto Parts, Car Reviews","publishingPrinciples":"\/blog\/our-team\/","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/author\/miabevacqua","sameAs":"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/mia-bevacqua-55b3a485"}],"headline":"The Top 3 Bad U-Joint Symptoms: Is it Time for a Replacement?","datePublished":"2021-02-22T11:00:26+00:00","dateModified":"2025-05-23T03:12:04+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/the-top-3-bad-u-joint-symptoms-is-it-time-for-a-replacement\/"},"wordCount":969,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/the-top-3-bad-u-joint-symptoms-is-it-time-for-a-replacement\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/u-joint-scaled.jpg","keywords":["u-joint"],"articleSection":["DIY","Drivetrain"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/the-top-3-bad-u-joint-symptoms-is-it-time-for-a-replacement\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/the-top-3-bad-u-joint-symptoms-is-it-time-for-a-replacement\/","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/the-top-3-bad-u-joint-symptoms-is-it-time-for-a-replacement\/","name":"The Top 3 Bad U-Joint Symptoms: Is it Time for a Replacement? - In The Garage with CarParts.com","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/the-top-3-bad-u-joint-symptoms-is-it-time-for-a-replacement\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/the-top-3-bad-u-joint-symptoms-is-it-time-for-a-replacement\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/u-joint-scaled.jpg","datePublished":"2021-02-22T11:00:26+00:00","dateModified":"2025-05-23T03:12:04+00:00","description":"Bad u-joints have several symptoms, including squeaking, clicking, and clunking noises. Read more to learn the signs of bad u-joints.","inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/the-top-3-bad-u-joint-symptoms-is-it-time-for-a-replacement\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/the-top-3-bad-u-joint-symptoms-is-it-time-for-a-replacement\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/u-joint-scaled.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/u-joint-scaled.jpg","width":2048,"height":1365,"caption":"u joint"},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/","name":"In The Garage with CarParts.com","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"CarParts.com","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/cp-itg-logo.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/cp-itg-logo.png","width":2048,"height":398,"caption":"CarParts.com"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/carpartscom","https:\/\/x.com\/carpartscom","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/carpartscom","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@CarPartscomOfficial\/"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/24fe92f285c72928a6fcb1acb4120275","name":"Mia Bevacqua","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/mia-bevacqua-chief-mechanic.png941b63fd087354398e10f659516b809a","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/mia-bevacqua-chief-mechanic.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/mia-bevacqua-chief-mechanic.png","caption":"Mia Bevacqua"},"description":"Mia Bevacqua has over 14 years of experience in the auto industry and holds a bachelor\u2019s degree in Advanced Automotive Systems. Certifications include ASE Master Automobile Technician, Master Medium\/Heavy Truck Technician, L1, L2, L3, and L4 Advanced Level Specialist. Mia loves fixer-upper oddballs, like her 1987 Cavalier Z-24 and 1998 Astro Van AWD.","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/author\/miabevacqua","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/mia-bevacqua-55b3a485"],"url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/author\/miabevacqua\/"}]}},"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/u-joint-scaled.jpg","featured_image_src_square":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/u-joint-scaled.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Mia Bevacqua, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician","author_link":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/author\/miabevacqua\/"},"authors":[{"term_id":2622,"user_id":1643,"is_guest":0,"slug":"miabevacqua","display_name":"Mia Bevacqua, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/mia-bevacqua-chief-mechanic.png","url2x":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/mia-bevacqua-chief-mechanic.png"},"author_category":"","user_url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/author\/miabevacqua","last_name":"Bevacqua","first_name":"Mia","job_title":"ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician","description":"<div class=\"auth-social-links\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/mia-bevacqua-55b3a485\" class=\"btn\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"linkedin\" aria-labelledby=\"linkedin\">LinkedIn<\/a><\/div>\r\n\r\nThroughout her career, Mia Bevacqua has applied her skills toward automotive failure analysis inspections, consulting, diagnostic software development, and of course, writing.\r\n\r\nMia has a passion for math, science, and technology that motivates her to stay on top of the latest industry trends, such as electric vehicles and autonomous systems. At the same time, she has a weakness for fixer-upper oddballs, such as her 1987 Chevy Cavalier Z-24 and 1998 Chevy Astro Van AWD.\r\n\r\n<strong>Credentials:<\/strong>\r\n\r\n<ul class=\"author-list\">\r\n<li><p>ASE Master Automobile Technician, Master Medium\/Heavy Truck Technician, L1, L2, L3, and L4 Advanced Level Specialist certification<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>15 years of industry experience<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Bachelor's degree in Advanced Automotive Systems<\/p><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23422","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1643"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23422"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23422\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23450"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23422"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23422"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23422"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=23422"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}