rubber cover on shaft? or something
I'll stab at it you have a pre 1964 car-- & the front "U" joint is a ball & trunion style-- you rippedthe cover off of it & now the joint will be open to the road grime.
go to ebay & search ball & trunion-- I do not think rock auto has them. Andy bernbaum -- still carries them.
i believe there are two sizes of joint-- Lawrence