Ujoint replacement

I am entrusted to work on my daughters 2003 Tacoma pre-runner, 2wheel drive automatic, extended cab, 3.4 engine, approx 130 k on it.
Bad vibration from starting off thru all speeds. The vibration felt as though metal gears were out of sync. Planned on draining rear diff as I suspected the gears may be grinding.
Luckily, as I was under the truck, happened to notice that one cap on the rearmost unjointed was cracked. Did not drain the diff. Pulled driveshaft! Went to oreilly for ujoints, got wrong parts. Went back, hopefully I now have needed parts in hand.
Have not pulled shaft joints yet, am concerned about the double cardan joints.
Should I replace all ujoints now? OR, should I only do the bad one? From what I have read here, others have had difficulties with parts and or doing the replacing of joints.
This truck is bone stock and excellent condition, I want to do the right thing by it.
Am open to all advice! Thanks.

 

Does the cardan joint flex smoothly or is it binding?

 

I'd replace them all while you have the driveshaft out. If one cap was cracked, they may all be dry from lack of lube.

 

I suggest you get oem Toyota u-joints, they ARE different and don't need regular regreasing. it does make a difference in the parts you use if you never want to be replacing them again. some aftermarkets are just made too cheap and leak out the grease making them only last a few years

 

It does flex smoothly, no binding! All joints seems fine except the rearmost that was cracked!

 

I am some distance from a dealership, so am somewhat stuck with getting parts from a local outlet.
There is a Napa store in town. Anyone have experience with ujoints from Napa stores?
How is the quality of joints from Oreillys?

 

Any idea what prices the dealers charge per ujoint?
Are the joints in the cardan the same as the front and rear joints?

 

they aren't much more, just a few dollars more vs the aftermarkets but well worth it

yes the cardan u-joints are special and are different then the others

 

I've had pretty good luck with Napa. I think in most cases they are more knowledgeable than your average Oreilly's.

 

Thanks.
I just checked with the toy dealer and was quoted $624.87 for all 4 joints not including tax.
That also includes the car support bearing.
The local parts house quoted 155.00 plus tax
That's a huge diff in price.
Is there anywhere else for a reasonable price?

 

I get my oem parts here: http://www.toyotaonlineparts.com/ they have the best prices anywhere I have found.

I am showing for my truck the front and rear u-joints are $52 each part number 37304-35041 http://www.toyotaonlineparts.com/oe-toyota/3730435041

the cardan joint shows it is only sold as a complete unit assembly for $1,162 part number 37100-3D260 but somewhere I saw a thread on here that shows the way to rebuild the cardan joints yourself and the correct u-joints to get with the part numbers so you should search around for that but I wouldn't mess with those unless you know they are bad. here is a thread that shows just why you don't want to get into these unless you have no other choice http://www.yotatech.com/f2/double-cardan-u-joint-teardown-02-tacoma-177712/
do a google search and you will see even if you manage to find u-joints to fit it you will still need to have the assembly balanced when you are done so it is not something to do yourself and its better to have it done somewhere that can also balance it.

for the regular u-joints, I suggest you get the correct part numbers for your truck from your dealer (I am told they are all different part numbers) and then go to toyotaonline.com parts to check for the prices

 

OEM joints are way more $$ than aftermarket and they do need greasing, properly and regularly. They are the best you can get. Equivalent joints can be had from High Angle driveline, Matsuba brand around $35.
Your 03 double cardan likely has the "external snap ring" style only available from Rockford Driveline. No welding, slide hammers or balancing are required but the job is "tricky", not hard but really tricky.
My version here, post #7 and 10.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/double-cardan-joint.273119/

edit, If the DC joint is smooth and doesn't bind leave well enough alone.

 

IMO, if you don't get dealer parts, get napa parts.

I wouldn't change all of the u-joints. just the broken one and then grease the rest of them. and you might also want to grease the new one too. i've sold plenty of u-joints in my career, and in my opinion, none of them seemed fully lubed right out of the box. just lubed enough for assembly.

it was most likely damaged from an external source, rock from the road or something small.

 

No, it looks like a fracture from stress, the truck was in Boston for 5 years and even though my daughter kept it washed and serviced it does have some rust underneath.
I will go see the local Napa store tomorrow(sat) hope they are open.
I miked all new joints I got from Oreillys and not one is the correct one, neither for the ends or the double cardan joint. I will try to contact "high angle driveline" per dirty pools response and see what will come of it.
I read some older posts stating that those driveline specialty shops may not be too eager to sell their parts to Diy people? That sucks! There is a driveline shop in the next town so maybe I will try and contact them and do some pleading!
I have replaced double cardan joints in the past on a Ford full size Bronco, and as Dirty Pool stated, I did not have a very pleasant experience, but it is do-able!

 

what info do you have on the truck? I can find you the right u-joints here.

2003 Tacoma pre-runner, 2wheel drive automatic, extended cab, 3.4 engine?

 

is it an exended cab 2 door or a 4 door?

 

and do you know if the u-joints are inside or outside lock rings?

 

It is a 2003 Tacoma pre-runner 3.4 v-6
Automatic
2 door extended cab long bed
2 wheel drive (rwd)
2 piece driveshaft with center bearing, double cardan joint and one ujoint at diff and one at tranny.
The double cardan has outside retaining clips
The two end ujoints have inside retaining clips
Hope that is enough info for your search
Thanks

 

for the front and rear u-joints, Napa has a 287 u-joint that is non greasable. A 387 which is greasable. And a 285 u-joint that is greasable, but is also a little stronger then the other 2.

All 3 have a bearing cap diameter of 1.142, with a 2.05 inch fitment between the inner lock rings outer locking rims. (Or the inside diameter of the yoke since they're inside snap ring styles)

If you have something different, you'll need to bring an old one in with you to be matched.

Did you mention that the truck had a custom driveshaft or something?

 

As for the double cardan u-joints, im not showing a listing on the napa prolink catalog. Are they the 1.063 cap diameters with an OAL of 3.22 inches? If so you have a 280 u-joint that i believe has the grease fitting on the cap for easy access, or a 369 bearing with the grease fitting tucked in between the caps at the body of the u-joint.