OK, here's what I tried to post last time...

I have a squeak/ rattle that:

• started with no off or on road trauma, it just started one day.
  
• is related to tire/driveline rotataion.
  
• is much louder going backward than going forward.
  
• seems to be coming from the back half of the trucklet.
  
• sounds like a squeak going slow and a rattle (almost like an exhaust rattle) going fast.
  
• is the same in gear or out of gear.
  
• doesn't change with the parking brake lightly applied.
  

The Tracker is 15 years old and has 155+k miles on it with no known u-joint or bearing work done.

I was thinking u-joint and as much as I hate changing u-joints, I'd prefer them over bearings.

Any thoughts?

I'd vote for U-joints

When mine went out, all I heard
was a creek/squeek and a grinding
sound as I accelerated from a stop sign

I had the Home Growed 3" suspension lift
at the time, and no rear axle rotation, so
the U-joint was getting a good workout as
it was taking up the additional 3" of now
normal flat ground running

Ohh, and it was at about 150,000 Miles too

Wild

Thanks for the reply Wild.

I'll have it in the garage for an oil change this weekend, so maybe I'll get it up on the jack stands and try to confirm the u-joints as the problem.

Any recommendation on purchasing u-joints?

No, but the new ones will
have Zerk fittings so now
you can grease them at
every oil change, I like
Mobil1 or another sythetic

Wild

the new ones will
have Zerk fittings

Wild

Hmmm, no choice on that?

I kind of like the idea of the Zerk fittings, but on other boards (with high HP vehicles) I've read concerns about strength (or lack of) compared to solid joints.  Of course, high HP is not a problem with my Tracker, but it may see some rough use occassionally.

Of course, seems like greasing them after a water crossing would be a very nice plus.

The Zerk is on the end of the cap,
not in the cross, so the strength is
not really affected, and as far as
strength, if I haven't broken one
running the Turbo and 33" swampers,
I don't think you have much to worry about

Wild