How Long Do U Joints Last?
On average, u joints can last 100k miles or as long as the life of the vehicle, but some factors can shorten their lifespan significantly.
U Joint Lifespan Factors
If you have a 4x4 truck that you take out rock crawling every weekend then your drive line is experiencing a lot of strain that it may not be prepared for long-term. If you have a weekend track car or have made engine modifications to increase engine power then the stock u joints may not be up to the task of carrying that power through the drive line without wearing them down prematurely. Lifting a vehicle can also change the driveline angle which can eventually stress the u joints beyond their limit.
It is good maintenance practice to check u joints with every oil change to look for symptoms of a failing or bad u joint before it can cause bigger problems. Also, some u joints have a zerk fitting that allows fresh grease to be added to the joint and doing this every other oil change can prolong the life of the joint.
* More information about causes of u joint failure.
