Installed Z71's and new shocks, now clunk and vibes

[Opeth]

Installed Z71's and 10" Bilstein universal off road shocks with 255/70 valving. Similar compressed and extended lengths as bds fox shocks. Now while acceleration I get some vibrations that are speed/ torque related and feel/ hear them through the body. No vibes while coasting or doing an acceleration under 2500 rpms. I'm going to assume a u-joint since they are all original. Transfer case fluid changed last fall, diffs have not but this just started after these were added. Only at 79k miles.

Also I am getting clunking now, which sounds as if like the blocks are moving around on the axle perches. I still have the factory end links, I got them apart without destroying the Allen hole and reinstalled them. I don't feel any play but they do pivot quite easily if I push them around.

Any help would be appreciated, other wise the truck rides great with the Z71's and stiff shocks. Its not harsh at all.

[boog2006]

That spacer looks huge!

[Opeth]

Ones that came from mark in his 3" kit...

[Moots1288]

The rear is the same in both kits

[v7guy]

That angle really does make the spacer look huge. Note to all you young guys, that's the angle to try to duplicate when your sendin pics to the ladies.

Can a U joint cause noises just above a certain rpm? Never ran across that before.

[Opeth]

Well it's developed into a constant clunking now under any acceleration pressure put on the drive line. Just coasting around i dont hear anything and i dont get a clunk when i shift gears. I had my windows up earlier since it was pouring, my girlfriend noted this evening she could hear a clunking noise. I put the windows down and I can hear from both sides a sound just like this but not this severe..but has this distinctive metallic notes.



I've had an odd vibration in the truck for a while at highway speeds that would come and go, but it is definitely coming from under the truck. Cv shafts looked fine and no leaking grease when I had the front end apart Saturday inspecting things.

I guess the extra change in driveline angle finally caused them to act up enough to make an audible sound.

I'll try and get under the truck tomorrow afternoon and poke around. I do have an extended warranty on my truck still, but pretty sure I voided coverage on these after the lift. I've never done u joints before so this should be interesting without a press...

[fishsticks]

You won't need a press, but you will need a torch. You have to burn the retainers out of the OEM ones.

[Opeth]

Ok, I feel like a noob now. I got under the truck with the rear on stands and yanked at all the u joints. Nonemoved, just the usual amount of back and forth slop, 1/4" at most. A couple of the cups looked as if they had some grease coming out, but nothing major. Put the truck in drive and I didn't hear that clunking/ rattling noise. So I went to the front and turned both wheels looking at the cv joints no noise till I saw the tail end of the hose clamp I installed on the inner boot of the passenger side rubbing. Forgot to trim the tail, did so and went for a drive no more metallic clicking sounds... Lol.

Still have the driveline shudder/ vibrations which may be the u joints since some have leaked grease out but I'll have the new tires and wheels road force balanced soon and rule out un balanceed tires before I go screwing with the joints.