How to determine a U Joint is bad..

u need to check them while they are installed on the truck. get under the truck and push upward and pull downward on the tailshaft/propshaft, and if you feel any upward or downward movement then the u-joint needs replacing. testing the u-joint off the truck is too hard to check, but the caps should be almost and if not imposible to rotate by hand.

 

you can buy replacment bands with bolts --that will tighten them up--or--you can use some shim stock to lay around the cup then bolt it together--good idea to use removeable lock tite on the bolts---as long as the bearing surface isnt worn--or spalled--you should be ok---i am not a fan of those 1/2 rounds just for that reASON

 

oh i didn't realise he was asking about the bands, untill i read his post again. dop!

 

The easiest way to check if a U joint is failing is, after a trip, go under with an infrared heat gun and shoot all of the caps. If one is considerably hotter than the others, it's hooped.

 

Last time I greased mine I did notice some up and down play, but once I pumped It ful of grease it went away. I didn't know if alittle play was normal or not, guess maybe I should get a new u-joint.

Very good idea! I have actually had the bolts on the cap come loose and the u-joint spun out of the half round while I was driving. Luckily it didn't damage anything beyond the joint.