HELP! Front Axle Yoke Loose

Kingsleythe3 · 04-30-2007, 06:29 PM

So I took off my front DS to figure out why it was loose. The UV joints are in great condition... The yoke coming from the front axle is pretty damn loose. I just changed the gear oil in the front axle, then I still had the problems. Thats when I took the shaft off. A mechanic I know told me the bearing is going bad and needs to be replaced... He told me I might as well just find another axle.

What's going on? There's a nut on the back of the yoke, could I tighten that?

Kingsleythe3 · 04-30-2007, 06:36 PM

I was also told that the whole front end could lock up on me...??? Is this true, should I not drive on it... Daily driver need help bad

severous01 · 04-30-2007, 06:42 PM

well, there's a few things it could be. the thrust washers could be crushed too much...dont know how much it would take to crush them further than the nut did....but i guess it's possible.

it could be that the nut backed off on the yoke...that's possible.

but either way, you're backlash is waaaay off. you're lucky you havent toasted the front ring/pinion yet. it should be welded together from the heat. you should remove the axles from the front diff and fix it when you can...

or, now's not a bad time for new gears...

RussoGuitar · 04-30-2007, 06:45 PM

Sounds like the pinion bearing, which isnt to expensive and is easy to replace.. search for a write up im sure theres one around some where. If its in the early stages there probably isnt any catastrophic damage done.

xj97jks · 09-22-2008, 07:36 PM

i have to same issue....can you tighten that nut on the yoke?

AZ Jeff · 09-22-2008, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xj97jks

i have to same issue....can you tighten that nut on the yoke?

Further tightening an already properly installed pinion nut is NOT a way to deal with "slop" in the pinion shaft. The ONLY way to fix it is new pinion bearings and a new crush sleeve.

xj97jks · 09-23-2008, 01:49 AM

how hard is that to install myself? and what cost am I looking at for something like that?

04-30-2007, 06:36 PM	#2
Kingsleythe3 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: New Orleans, Louisiana Posts: 163 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	also I was also told that the whole front end could lock up on me...??? Is this true, should I not drive on it... Daily driver need help bad __________________ -Kingsleythe3- Mine - 97 XJ, Red, 33 MT's, 4.5 Rusty Coils and 4.5 RE Pack, flareless, 4.10s, Ramsey 8000 Winch, Warn grill guard, rock rails, roof rack, sye, etc [URL="http://s48.photobucket.com/albums/f245/kingsleythe3/Jeep/"]My Jeep Stuff[/URL]...

04-30-2007, 06:42 PM	#3
severous01 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hamilton, NJ Posts: 2,118 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	well, there's a few things it could be. the thrust washers could be crushed too much...dont know how much it would take to crush them further than the nut did....but i guess it's possible. it could be that the nut backed off on the yoke...that's possible. but either way, you're backlash is waaaay off. you're lucky you havent toasted the front ring/pinion yet. it should be welded together from the heat. you should remove the axles from the front diff and fix it when you can... or, now's not a bad time for new gears...