Slop in the front DS slip joint

firehawk · 12-24-2006, 07:02 PM

I was under the Jeep greasing stuff, and when I went to grease the slip joint on the front DS I noticed some movement. If I try to turn the DS, there is no slop, but if I push up and down on it, there is movement. I have begun to feel like there is a tire out of balance, could this be the cause of the slight vibration? If so, what is the remedy?

ready to mud · 12-24-2006, 07:11 PM

i had the exact same problem. this is quite likely your vibration. i am not sure if you can rebuilt the slip yoke or if you need to buy a new driveshaft

AznDrgn · 12-24-2006, 07:17 PM

Sounds like it might be a possibility, pull your front drive shaft and see if it goes away.

firehawk · 12-24-2006, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ready to mud

i had the exact same problem. this is quite likely your vibration. i am not sure if you can rebuilt the slip yoke or if you need to buy a new driveshaft

That's kinda what I was wondering about. Is it usually the yoke that wears, or the driveshaft? Also what can cause it to wear? I assume it is the same as the rear as far as the pinion inline with the DS?

Looks like I'll end up pulling the DS, and seeing if the vibration goes away.

snowblur17 · 12-24-2006, 09:07 PM

Let us know how it goes!!

cherokeewes · 12-24-2006, 09:10 PM

yea thats deff what is i had the same prob $100 for a used front ds or you can get it rebuilt

firehawk · 12-25-2006, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cherokeewes

yea thats deff what is i had the same prob $100 for a used front ds or you can get it rebuilt

So I suppose any driveshaft shop could rebuild it? If it is worn, HOW do they rebuild it? Do they cut the DS, and weld a new slip joint to it?

conrasm · 12-25-2006, 11:24 AM

It could be rebuilt, but it might be cheaper to just get one from a junk yard. Check you area for any yards that will let you pull the parts yourself. They are cheaper. You can always get a quote for a rebuild, but my thinking is that it would be cheaper to get a used one. I paid $75 for one from a yard and they pulled it.

**ChewyXJ** · 12-25-2006, 02:40 PM

Worn slip splines are a fairly common thing. Call a local driveline shop and junkyard for price comparisons on your area.

Around here a rebuild costs $175 and a j-yard shaft runs $30-$50. Keep in mind that a j-yard shaft may have the same problem in the near future.

firehawk · 12-26-2006, 12:01 PM

Well I was coming home from my relatives house last night and the vibration was REAL bad. It was snowing, and a little slick. I tried fulltime, but thought better of it. I removed the front DS this morning and drove the Jeep. SUPRISE no vibration.

I took the DS to a driveshaft shop, and they said the slip joint was worn, exactly what I thought. They are going to cut the end off, and weld a new shaft on it, rebalance it, and replace the slip yoke. They are going to replace the pinion u-joint, but said there was no problem with the cardan joint, so I decided to save some money and leave it alone for now. Cost is $200....

so much for my tire carrier for now.

%#@*% Jeeps!

firehawk · 12-27-2006, 06:46 PM

Well I got the front DS back in today. Vibration problem solved. All nice shiney and black! The thing I like most about it is the shop bumped up the diameter of the splined shaft from 1 1/4" to 1 3/8".

When I manage to save up some money, and can afford to park the Jeep for a couple of days I'm thinking about having him do the same to the front DS I'm running on the rear.

12-24-2006, 07:11 PM	#2
ready to mud Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 215 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	i had the exact same problem. this is quite likely your vibration. i am not sure if you can rebuilt the slip yoke or if you need to buy a new driveshaft __________________ 92 xj laredo, 4.0l 5spd, 3 inch lift, chopped fenders, 33x12.5x15 wildcountry rvts, lincon locked rear, 9500 winch, hombrew bumpers and snorkle and the list goes on

12-24-2006, 07:17 PM	#3
AznDrgn Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Harrisonburg, Va. Posts: 1,064 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Sounds like it might be a possibility, pull your front drive shaft and see if it goes away. __________________ '87 Jeep Cherokee Laredo 4.0L, NP231, AW4, 5.5" lift, s10/waggy/XJ bastard pack, 7" fabtech TJ coil springs - Weekend play thing '83 Porsche 944 2.5L Callaway turbo - Daily driver '81 Porsche 924 - Custom EFI and forced induction project '83 Porsche 944 2.5L - Sold '78 Porsche 924NA 2.0L - RIP

12-25-2006, 02:40 PM	#9
ChewyXJ nom nom nom Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Whitefish, Montana Posts: 2,752 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Worn slip splines are a fairly common thing. Call a local driveline shop and junkyard for price comparisons on your area. Around here a rebuild costs $175 and a j-yard shaft runs $30-$50. Keep in mind that a j-yard shaft may have the same problem in the near future. __________________ '93 Cherokee Sport 4.0 man. 4.5" Black Diamond/ O.M.E., JKS control arms, discos, track bar, rear D44/detroit, 35x12.5 BFGmt's,33x13.5 LTBs,AlloyUSA shafts, oba, Warn M8000 multi-mount '97 Cherokee Sport 5spd,231, white, stock '90 Cherokee Pioneer 4.0 auto, 6" homebrew long arm lift, 33x10.5 BFG MT's, etc. '87 XJ 2" lift '96 XJ stock "Personally, I've learned so much from my mistakes, I'm thinking of making some more." "Don't believe everything you think..."