Change my damn U-joints again.

The YJ has recently developed a severe case of driveline vibes and I just got back from driving it and it makes a new noise. It creaks when I start off in first and then I can hear the u-joints squeaking in first and second. As soon as I put the clutch in or get off the gas the noise goes away too.

So my question is this...what else should I look for to check and possibly replace while I'm under there?

BTW: the creaking noise is kinda like the same noise my Jeep made right before I tore the shackle hanger off the frame. Checked that out and it looks fine so I don't think I have to worry about the axle falling off while driving :relieved:

I would alternately pull the front and rear shafts and drive around in 4 HI to see if you can isolate the noises.

How much lift? SYE?

Maybe wheel bearings?

Are your ubolts tight? If not, the creaking could be them torquing up under load, which would also severely decrease the life of those ujoints.

'95 YJ
-SOA with stock springs
-HD shackles (1/2" lift)
-NP231 w/ Currie SYE and Tera 4:1
-CV shaft in rear (shaft is 19 3/4")
-stock shaft in front <IMG SRC="smilies/tongue.gif" border="0">
-33" MT/Rs
-4cyl and 5spd so thats a pretty short combo

I got underneath it and I can yank on the rear shaft from side to side and it moves a bit at the t-case end. Also has some noises associated with me moving it. The front shaft is pretty much completely worthless at this point because I can move the shaft side to side and watch the play in the slip yoke. Also I have pretty horrible axlewrap in the rear because I have beat the hell out of these springs. With nothing in the back (no spare tire, no seat, no gear) I have negative arch in the springs. In the front, the springs are flat if not negatively arched. I'll try torquing down the u-bolts as well but I'm pretty convinced its just the u-joints in the rear shaft, specifically the t-case end where the CV is.