I have a 03 4WD, crew cab, 48RE tranny, with 155K that was purchased with 122K. I had a vibration that thought was tires as I had "chewed " a bit off on camping trips. Balancing tire helped but still had some. Universals, I'm told, are good for 100k which I had passed by a bit. Long story short, the vibration of bad universals cracked the trany housing and let fluid go. Fortunately I was near home and didn't ruin rest of transmission.

I had someone look at the drive shaft will all 4 on ground and said it felt OK. Evidently, that was not a good way for an evaluation???? Now that its fixed its really smooth with no vibration. IMHO replace them at 100K or seriously evaluate their condition. Some people weld them it you know a good tig welder. I got a new part for $160 from local shop, as it turned out I had other issues in valve body too that I'm more aware of now that it's working properly.

 

That seems to happen a lot when a vibration is felt. But I don't trust the 'ujoints are fine' diagnosis. Often it is the ujoint but you don't see or feel the movement until you take the joint apart and the rusted needles fall out.

I've got a vibe and everyone keeps blaming it on the tires and I'm told 'the ujoints are fine'. I'm certain it is a ujoint but I'm waiting until failure to figure out which one I know, that is gambling. Especially your experience losing the tranny housing. Glad you are up and running smoothly again.

 

I have to agree with Shorts, the ujoints on these trucks are notorius for failing but being unable to tell if they are bad by the usual methods. Just a thought, but you can also use an infrared thermometer to check each ujoint after a hard run and see if one of them is running hotter ( say by more then 10*F) -- a vibration equals more friction which ususally equals more heat.

 

I agree with part of the above quote (about notorious failures)I have a gear vendors installed on my truck and that includes a smaller front ujoint my problem is the rear u joint I can't get 70,000 kilometers(45000miles) out of the rear u joint. I have used greasable not greasable, Chinese made and American made and I have found Spicer greasable last the longest. I believe the problem is caused by axle wrap up and the fix would be traction bars. I should mention that the drive shaft angle has been checked and is ok and this is not a lifted truck. It has 293000 kilometers (180,000 miles) and over half of that is towing a 12,000 lbs, fifth wheel. I also have to say that I have used a non contact thermometer after a highway drive and found no difference between the front and rear ujoints and had a rear u joint failure with in 500 kilometers (300 miles.
Jim O