Front axleshaft u-joint "inspecting"? (10 bolt)

[dyeager535]

I try to make the post title informative, but I have no idea how I'd word this.

Crawling under my truck the myriad times I have lately, I looked at one of the front axleshaft u-joints. I'm sure they are original, they look like they are part of the shaft.

However, I noticed where one cap comes through the shaft, whatever is coating the shaft there (paint, plastic from the factory u-joints, rust?) is "cracked". Basically what it looks like is that the cap has started to move around just a tiny bit. It's not a crack in the metal or anything, but I'm curious if anyone else thinks this is an indication that the shafts need pulled and these joints need replaced?

 

[mrk5]

I would change "reading" to "inspecting". I thought this was going to be a sort of FYI post or something in which I was going to be doing a lot of "reading".

I'm not sure I understand what you are desribing. Is is the "seal" that is at the bottom of the cap. If so, I would be worried about it because with no way to regrease them they may be, or may start to loose the grease.

 

[dyeager535]

Changed.

How to describe. On a driveshaft u-joint, you can see the caps when it's installed. (looking from the side, not peering at the cross of the joint) On the axleshaft joint, I guess there IS a seal/plug like piece on the *outside* as well, so you don't actually see the cap?

In this case, I guess what I'm seeing "cracking" is that metal seal from the crud surrounding it. I think what you are thinking of is the rubber seal that seals the cross to the cap. Thats "inside" the assembly, this is outside. This is a piece (metal I believe) that covers the ends of the u-joint cap.

Problem is, I'm not really sure how those things are setup. IIRC there is a metal seal pushed in over the outside of the hole in the yoke for the u-joint cap.