U-Joint Fiasco

Daveb · Jun 24, 2026

I decided to replace the carrier bearing in my 2001 2500HD due to the rubber being excessively loose. Truck has 24000 miles and I assume dry rot was the issue.
OCD me says I might as well replace u joints while I have the shaft out of the truck just cuz.

Here I am two weeks later and the correct joint has yet to be found. All the Spicers that are supposed to fit, are too long. Even the ones that are supposed to fit what I “believe” is an AAM 1415 series drive shaft.
I have sourced an nos GM unit that I am hoping is the correct unit, the Chevy dealer couldn’t confirm the specs on it as it has been superseded.
Anybody have words of wisdom or experience?

99Sierra2500 · Jun 25, 2026

I have had to measure them to find the right one, it's annoying.

Daveb · Jun 25, 2026

I only did a rough measurement on them before swapping, or trying to swap them. Cup sizes are correct, the axis is just too long to allow the c clips to seat correctly. If the old GM unit doesn’t fit right, I will try the AAM unit. If that doesn’t cut it, I will try some thinner c clips if I can find any that would work

stutaeng · Jun 25, 2026

Which U-joint is what? The one at the transmission yoke?

Daveb · Jun 25, 2026

All 3 of them, RWD with 2 piece shaft

Daveb · Jul 17, 2026

After all this chasing my tail, new carrier bearing and three new 1415(AAM) u joints, my vibration has done nothing but get worse. The drive shaft shop that balanced it says it was balanced as a unit, both halves together.
I’m looking around and I see what I believe can’t possibly be right, can it? This gap between the yolk straps ant the u joint cups. I ordered a new set of straps from GM and thanks to the USPS, they have been traveling all around Missouri, just not to me yet.
I couldn’t find any mention anywhere of a “conversion” u joint that would be needed for the 1415 drive shaft to mount to the pinion either.
I’ve about driven myself bat crap crazy with this thing, which if you know me, isn’t a very long trip

Edit- To answer my own question, the gap in the yoke straps to u joint caps is normal.

SK101 · Jul 17, 2026

One of my trucks was such a tight fit i never did get the c clip in.
Gave up, put it back together "for now" and it must have been 10 years since!
Probably not the recommended way though.

Daveb · Jul 18, 2026

To

SK101 said:
One of my trucks was such a tight fit i never did get the c clip in.
Gave up, put it back together "for now" and it must have been 10 years since!
Probably not the recommended way though.

I would wager you that you also have a 1415 style drive shaft and you installed a 1410 style u joint. The 1410 is about 10 thousandths wider than the 1415.

Daveb · Jul 18, 2026

I put the truck up on jack stands and had my wife accelerate it to the start of the vibration, about 30-35 MPH. Was pretty obvious that the carrier bearing that I had a shop install was the problem. I did as careful of an autopsy on it as I could, and the attached picture is what I found. I will be paying them a visit on Monday.