NJDiverDan

Ok, news from my mechanic. The drive line U-joint / joints are shot. He thinks that the vibration may been causing a sensor to kick the trans out of OD (since problem only happens in OD, not when the TC is locked up in 3rd.

He is replacing the u-joints and we will go from there. I will keep you guys updated. BTW, I had the front end u-joints replaced about 1 month ago, what a job. Almost needed to cut the wheel bearings off because the whole hub assembly was seized up due to the really tight tollerances. If for what ever reason you have the hub assembly apart, make sure to coat everything with anti seize for the future. If they did that when they were manufactured, the mechanics would have a much easier time.

-dan

KKB

Good to know it is just the u-joints for you and not the TC that would have gotten expensive. Is there anyway to see if the u-joints are going bad, I looked under the truck the other day and couldn't see anything wrong with them but I am no mechanic by any means either.

Spooler

Sometimes when U-joints go bad they will have a red dust on them. That is when they run dry of lube and start to eat themself. Other times you just have to drive and feel by hand if one of the cups on the joint is hotter than the others it may be bad. If I were you I would put in Spicer U-joints. They will last a long time....

brickenbone

Whatever!!

NJDiverDan

Brickenbone...what don't you believe??? I have an 03 HO 3.73, not chipped and stock "off road" tires. I have always had excellent milage. Don't know what more to say.

-dan

BigDave12768

I have to agree "WHATEVER" I honestly think we are streching the truth a bit 21mpg at 80mph!!!! I could easily believe 21 mph at 65mph or so since I have pulled this off in my truck. But only with the cruise control set. I think this site really needs a post about all our fishing/Hunting stories and about the big one that got away. And part of the story could be about the MPG we got on the trip.

trik396

03's do get better mileage... who are we to judge?...

NJDiverDan

Come on BigDave, if you can pull 21 @ 65 with your 3500 with 4.10, chiped out with all the extra stuff (weight) you have added to your truck how come you can't believe that I get 21 @ 80 doing my daily commute. Granted I am not doing 80 all the time, but most of it.
And yes the '03s do get much better milage than the 04.5s.


If you are still interested in seeing what happens after the new U-joint is installed, I will up date you, but will you even believe me?????

jrussell

Maybe NJDriverDan has just figured out a way to always drive downhill?

djbikeman

I'm not saying his numbers are accurate, but if you get in moderate-heavy traffic at high speeds it's not out of the realm of possibility, especially over a distance of 75mph. You get the draft of all the vehicles in front you, so you will get better mileage in traffic at 80mph than you would get on the open road. Plus the 03 w/ 3.73's is the best of the bunch for mileage.

21mph at 80...that's hard to swallow. NJDiverDan - The great thing is it doesn't matter what any of us think. It's not us paying for your fuel. If you really are getting that kind of mileage...AWESOME!!!

BigDave12768

The chip listed in my sig is now gone. I got 22 with the qua zxt on a set 90 mile run with addatives. I tested a few different products. These trucks get better fuel mileage under 2k rpm. at 80 you have to be pushing 2400 rpm's or so. Your fuel mileage will take a hit.

Oh and what extra stuff on my truck? I don't really have any real extra weight on my truck. At most 100 pounds with out the plow on

boyhowdy

My 03 got 21-26 average and a all time best of 28. Now replaced it with a 06 and lucy to get 13mpg.(for sale)

NJDiverDan

ok guys, enough of the Mileage talk.

Ujoints replaced. Wow is the truck smooth again. Did not realize how much vibration I was getting (at all speeds), it was just peaking at 70 mph.

The good news, the trans has not acted up since. Granted only 225 miles since the repair (1.5 trips to and from work) but everything is A-OK!!!

Still may look into a beefed up converter/ VB for the long haul, but at least for now, it is on my schedule.

ZacHolley

how much did the shop charge for ujoints and the labor?? and where did you get the ujoints

badme

My 01 only gets 16.7 mpg with all highway miles at 75 mph, so tell me how do you do it??