ive searched.......when you get a used driveshaft from someone, are the ends of the shaft supposed to move freely? i hear all the talk about U-joints being bad, but what does that look like when your holding the shaft in your hand?( no pun intended ) i can rock the ends back and forth easily. this is normal right?

 

What you are looking for (with the shaft in your hands ) is slop at the joints. I had one that went bad. If you look at the actual universal joint the problem is the connection between the yoke and (the four point piece in the middle, I dont know what it is called.) the bearing at the connection can be badly worn or the actual yoke can be cracked or worn.

Hope this helps

 

but its supposed to move freely by hand right? twists and bends are normal movement for something like this. the joints seem great.

 

Yes, if holding the driveshaft both joints should move up and down, left and right freely without binding. Then while holding the driveshaft try turning the joints back and forth to make sure there is no play in the bearings.

 

ohhhh. so that would explain why i can move my old driveshaft easily while its still installed on the car. so the play im feeling are the u-joints actually moving, not the mounts. wow now i know.