Universal joint broke

That roadside guy doesn’t know anything about hauling loads and trucks. He’s a tech school kid and parts changer. Your joints can haul double that weight. And can be abused for months

 

Does you mechanic grease all the fittings every couple of weeks? If not, no he didn’t do a proper job. But he done the job he was paid to do.

Your u joints may be sealed. And can’t be greased. But they can be inspected.

Word of advise. Don’t play the blame game with your shop. They have records of who does what, to what truck. And issues those trucks have had. Don’t get involved.

But do document (message your dispatch) when you have truck issues. This provides a record for future reference, if the shop fails or refuses to fix an issue.

PS... wanting a new mattress is NOT an issue.

 

It probably just bad one. I remember how my shifting was when I started and they can take a lot. You would be surprised how many people don't grease them. Plus lots are the sealed for life ones and they never check them.

I don't think you did it also. Plus the shop guys should be checking them. When they service the truck. The driver getting under the truck to check them is kinda extreme usnless your an O/O

You could probably not grease them for 100,000 miles or longer before they would fail. So you don't have have to think you did anything wrong

 

Trucking is a jealous mistress You’ll learn what that means soon enough.

Even though I raised hell, the company I’m currently working for, stuck me in an auto my first trip out. I got less than 150 miles down the road. Then spent 3 days in a hotel waiting on parts.

S*** happens. That’s the only thing that never changes in trucking.

 

I don’t know or ever have known a Driver to check u joints. That’s what the Shop is for.

 

I check the hell out of them. And ALL the steering components. Long story

 

I actually saw one snap and drop driveshaft on a brand new Peterbilt Tow Truck. As He was about to hook my rig in a blizzard. It still makes me laugh to think about him crying “ My Boss is gonna kill Me”. 5 minutes earlier he was a know it all smart ### to Me and another O/O who was also stuck.Brand New Truck!! Blizzard of Jan 96, Manheim Pa 36. “ snow

 

You don't know what you're talking about. I haven't seen a grease zerk on a u-joint i 20 years. They're all sealed. The only grease point is the spline.

 

I can feel when something’s wrong. Once had yoke come loose on drive axle. Luckily caught it and with a hammer and chisel tightened it till I got to a shop.His u joint was bad. Or bolts reused overtorqued as mentioned.Not his fault. Even abuse should stall engine first. Anything mechanical can break at any time. My Truck has all original front end parts 2.3 million miles, My first Truck had Pitman arm go bad at 500 k. All other parts went over a million.Go figure. Monitoring for wear is one thing - total failure unpredictable