Are my u joints bad??

[findinghomer]

Hi guys. 1997 5.7 alpha 1 gen 2. Had no issues, but decided to change my bellows, seals and shift cable. "While I was in there" also changed my gimbal bearing . now with job complete, and brand new bearing, I get I knocking/clicking when I cut the wheel sharp left our right. Happens in forward , reverse, or even just sitting there idling, all trim positions. Sounds normall under normal operating conditions. I find it hard to believe my u joints coincidentally are bad , right after doing this service . I did have an issue where I didn't think I had my bearing was all the way in. Turns out I did , so I was frivolously pounding on the driving tool more times then needed. Do you think I screwed up the new bearing by pounding on it when it was all the way in already? Or is it my u joint? Ooh, and yes I used an alignment check tool when reinstalling the drive. I would rather not mess with the u joints unless I have too. Hopefully someone has some input. Thanks!

 

[Bt Doctur]

if the clicking was not there prior to your replacing the gimbal bearing then not having it fully seated could be the problem.

 

[findinghomer]

if the clicking was not there prior to your replacing the gimbal bearing then not having it fully seated could be the problem.

Hmmmm that might be my problem. I assumed since my drive went back on ok, that my bearing was fully seated in it's bore. It wouldn't go on any further when I pounded on it (i didn't mark my old one right. Oops), so I thought to myself.... Well perhaps it's on all the way I better stop beating on it. So I put my out drive back on, and it went on ok.

 

[muc]

If the two o-rings on the drive shaft where it goes thru the gimbal bearing didn't get replaced and lightly greased, it will cause the noise you are hearing.

 

[Watermann]

Yeah I have to confess I beat the snot out of my gimbal bearing too when I installed it. It dawned on me in my fevered hammering that maybe I should stop since it changes sounds after first few blows but it got a few extras anyhow. No troubles with clicking sounds though when turning. Did you have the correct tool for driving the bearing in that goes on the alignment tool?

Knocking sounds when turning sure could be the ujoints. Did you grease them with bearing grease when you had the drive off? How were they for play?

 

[findinghomer]

If the two o-rings on the drive shaft where it goes thru the gimbal bearing didn't get replaced and lightly greased, it will cause the noise you are hearing.

Oh... I'm going to have to check that. Bc there are 2 seals that I didn't replace. They are the ones closest to the u joint end of the drive shaft, right by each other. The ones in my kit didn't look right, so I left old ones on. How likely is that my problem? Why would that cause this noise?

 

[findinghomer]

I used the proper tool for driving it in. Could inadequate grease cause this? Maybe I didn't grease the bearing enough. I'm now reading any where from 10-25 pumps of grease. I know I didn't use that much lol. When I pull the drive again, I'll regrease the bearing.

 

[findinghomer]

I didn't grease the u joints when I had drive off. pretty sure I have perma lube joints. Are those interchangeable btw? Those are pretty expensive

 

[Watermann]

Did you get one of the non-grease sealed gimbal bearings? Otherwise there's a grease zerk on the starboard side of the transom assembly that you have to align the slot on the tolerance ring on the bearing with the grease channel.

Be sure to lube up your driveshaft splines with the appropriate spline grease. I have 3 grease guns now that I own a merc sterndrive. :lol:

 

[achris]

If the new bearing is greaseable, it's not genuine. That could also be the problem.... And you're right, if the drive goes all the way back on, the bearing is fully seated. Also someone mentioned that there is a change of sound when driving it in. That's when you stop hitting.

Chris......

 

[findinghomer]

If the new bearing is greaseable, it's not genuine. That could also be the problem.... And you're right, if the drive goes all the way back on, the bearing is fully seated. Also someone mentioned that there is a change of sound when driving it in. That's when you stop hitting.

Chris......

Yes it's a Sierra bearing, and the grease hole is aligned. I've never changed a gimbal bearing, so I am not entirely sure this is even a greasable bearing. the retainer ring has a cutaway and then there is a large hole in the outside diameter, but inside that large hole its solid. theres no hole where it gets into the bearing. Is that normal , shouldn't there be a little pin size hole where grease can get to the inside of the bearing??

 

[achris]

I don't believe Sierra make sealed bearings. I'd pull the drive off again (doesn't take long) and check the bearing. Turn it with your fingers and make sure it's smooth and quiet.

Chris......

 

[stonyloam]

Leaving the old O rings should be OK. A bearing would probably make a rumbling sound when you turn rather than a click.

 

[findinghomer]

If the new bearing is greaseable, it's not genuine. That could also be the problem.... And you're right, if the drive goes all the way back on, the bearing is fully seated. Also someone mentioned that there is a change of sound when driving it in. That's when you stop hitting.

Chris......

Hi chris, thanks for your input. Unfortunately it's too late for me to listen for the change in sound . but I am beginning to think it is not seated properly. Bc when I grease from the zerk fitting, the grease is pumping behind the bearing. I know I have the grease hole aligned, and if it is misaligned, it would not be much at all. So my question is, is it possible for gimbal to not be fully seated, yet the out drive still go on and work properly ( with the exception of that chattering noise)? Bc if that is possible, then that's my problem. But the bearing will not go in any further, with some heavy wacks. so I guess my only option would be to pull it and put another bearing in. But I really don't want to waste another bearing either if it is in all the way already.

 

[findinghomer]

If the two o-rings on the drive shaft where it goes thru the gimbal bearing didn't get replaced and lightly greased, it will cause the noise you are hearing.

Ok, so I didn't realize that Those o rings are not supposed to be flat (that is why I did not replace them with the new kit, because the new kit is not flat) I removed the old flat rings, and put on the new o'rings. Do you think this could have been the problem?

 

[muc]

Yes.
But the grease coming out behind the bearing isn't good. Need to get grease to come out around the the part that spins.

 

[Watermann]

Hi guys. 1997 5.7 alpha 1 gen 2. Had no issues, but decided to change my bellows, seals and shift cable. "While I was in there" also changed my gimbal bearing . now with job complete, and brand new bearing, I get I knocking/clicking when I cut the wheel sharp left our right. Happens in forward , reverse, or even just sitting there idling, all trim positions. Sounds normall under normal operating conditions. I find it hard to believe my u joints coincidentally are bad , right after doing this service . I did have an issue where I didn't think I had my bearing was all the way in. Turns out I did , so I was frivolously pounding on the driving tool more times then needed. Do you think I screwed up the new bearing by pounding on it when it was all the way in already? Or is it my u joint? Ooh, and yes I used an alignment check tool when reinstalling the drive. I would rather not mess with the u joints unless I have too. Hopefully someone has some input. Thanks!

I still think from your original post that the ujoints are to blame for the noise you're hearing as do you by the post.

 

[findinghomer]

Yes.
But the grease coming out behind the bearing isn't good. Need to get grease to come out around the the part that spins.

It's it possible that's happening bc my grease is too thick? when I first used this grease with this grease gun, the grease shot out real thin jet stream. but now it comes out in thick clobs. Like you were just squeezing the tube w your hand. it is A generic marine grease for bearings maybe that's the problem?

 

[findinghomer]

I still think from your original post that the ujoints are to blame for the noise you're hearing as do you by the post.

while I am pretty sure it is my U joint that is clattering, I think it may be because of something else, may be rubbing on the bearing. I just find it hard to believe that the coincidentallywent bad right when I did it Gimbal bearing swap out. so I think I will pull the bearing to make sure it's installed properly first

 

[achris]

As removing the bearing requires pulling on the inner race, you'll damage it. Pull it only to toss in the trash. If you're happy it's all the way in, leave it.