Tonight I was changing my starter out and I happened to look at my differential and noticed something shiny, so upon closer inspection I found out that the yolk (the part that holds the U-Joint to the differential) is rubbing against the driveshaft, when I was looking at it it does not look like it hits it but I guess at some point during the time it turns one complete turn it rubs up against it.

I kinda need to know what can cause this to happen and is there something I can do to fix it

(sorry I don't have any pictures but I will try and get some up tomorrow)

 

yea the pics would help

 

Pics would be a plus.....

The yoke (pinion yoke as it's called on the rear end side) holds one half of the u-joint. The weld yoke, is the part that is welded to the driveshaft tube and holds the other half of the u-joint
Based on your description, I don't see how a pinion yoke can be rubbing on the driveshaft tube unless the driveline angles are so far off but if that were the case, you would have driveline vibration issues?

Post up some pics for us......

 

it is rubbing on at least three of the four joints, the last picture is to kind of see the angle the rear differential sits

also bonus should I just replace my rear end since it is leaking out from under the U-bolts

 

Wow, a couple of things come to mind here. Either:

1. That u-joint is SHOT and allowing the two yoke parts to eat each other alive. Judging by the pics, I would say you'll need to replace at least the yoke that bolts to the pinion flange when you get this squared away.

AND/OR

2. Something is really screwed up with the way the housing is mounted. I can't tell if it's just the angle of the picture but it looks like the pinion is pointed WAY high. The leak by the u-bolts also makes me think something is seriously wrong here. The only reason I can come up with for that leak is if the spring perch has broken loose from the axle and opened up the tube allowing it to leak and letting the housing rotate; Or the u-bolts are loose and the housing has been moving enough for them to chew through the axletube. You could have some leaf spring damage also.

Good luck getting this figured out man. If at all possible, I'd park the truck until you can get this fixed because something is way out of whack. Could you post some more pics of the leaf spring/u-bolt areas and pinion angle?

 

Definitely the rear is pointed way too high. My guess is that either in forward or reverse, you are getting enough axle wrap to have the two sides hit.

 

I guess I will let it slide a little while longer so I can get a new rear end, I am going to get the bigger rear end with disc brakes.

hopefully nothing happens

 

Looks like something is seriously screwed up there.
The thing that caught my eye is the adjuster slot on the backing plate. It should be at the bottom, 6 o'clock position. Yours it at 7:30 or 8 o'clock.
It appears that your axle is rotated quite a bit, which would raise the pinion angle and cause the contact on the yoke.
Either that or something is seriously busted. Or both.

You need to park it until you get that squared away.
I wouldn't want to be anywhere near it if it finally comes apart while you're driving.

 

I guess this is the reason that when I take off the rear of my truck feels like it is jumping around, but I guess I am going to need a new rear end mainly do to that leak that is photographed and also I think my leaf springs are pretty flat so I am going to need a new set of those also, but does anyone know of a temporary fix such as a way to rotate the differential back

 

You have been advised by 2 people not to drive the truck. Consider me a 3rd.

 

there in lies my problem it is my only vehicle but crap I am probably going to have to borrow a car from someone

 

Well it happened today as I was driving home from work(well just as I took off) the yolk snapped and I had to stop and pull my driveshaft out and drive my truck home in four wheel drive with only the front two wheels, hopefully I did not damage anything, it does not sound like it especially since I drove the 4 miles slowly getting the truck to 30 mph and then letting it coast in neutral with the clutch down all the way till it went to 20 mph)

I guess just to solve most of the problems I am going to just by a new(used) rear end from a junk yard, the one I am getting is going to cost me about 600 bux

 

Wow, sounds like you had a fun day. But I guess we can look at the positive in this: nobody got hurt, it happened on your way home from work instead of way to work, and you have a good excuse to upgrade the truck.

 

Yes sir thats the good thing like I was telling my friends it could have broke when I was going 70 down the freeway and could have caused some real damage

but now I am going to upgrade to the 9.75 ring gear

 

looks like when your springs flattened -it rolled your rearend up and the spring hangers bit into your axle tube, then it changed the angle of the rear end

check for a broken shackle and most def replace those springs - the rear end is still good - i would probably use some jb weld on it if it wasn't to bad

good luck