u joint help

scoot08 · 02-01-2009, 05:27 PM

im pretty sure my u joints are going out and i need to replace them but i know nothing about them so i need your help i need to know what you know about u joints

**neatocj** · 02-01-2009, 05:50 PM

AAALLLLLLRIIIGHT!!!

There are a few ways to tell that your u-joints are junk.

The easiest way is they squeak/squeal at different points, alot of it depends on your rpm's.

Another way is there might be grease right above them on the body...anywhere near them.

Also another way is if they are really messed up and their might be excessive play between the point of the driveshaft and the pinion.

The only way to get 'em off is to get a pair of pliers and pinch the clips out from the top of each cap. All this after you get the drive shaft off of the vehicle. I am not sure if the xjs have the strap style u-joint retainers on the pinion, but if they do it is much easier to change them.

In order to get the u-joint out of the drive shaft is you could take a hammer or a vice (i recommend a vice, hammers ding up the yoke) and press the u-joint all the way to one side. Sometimes it is very easy and other times you have to put a set of vice grips on the exposed half of the cap and yank 'er out.

To install a new one you do the exact same thing.

scoot08 · 02-01-2009, 06:07 PM

ok but what kind of u joints do i get? i looked on auto zone's website and there was two the difference was the clips any ideas?

**xjfever** · 02-01-2009, 06:09 PM

http://www.jeepin.com/features/ujoint/index.asp

skyway0018746 · 02-01-2009, 07:18 PM

there are two because one is for the front axle that drives the wheels and one is for the drive shafts
the one that looks like a "c" is for the axle.
just a suggestion spend the extra money and get spicer which is oem or precision u joints with grease fittings

blacky_j · 02-01-2009, 08:01 PM

i've done my u-joints for the first time, i didn't know anything about hem, it seems really complicated at first man, but once you get going in there, its pretty much abc's and cheese. the only hard part is, trying to slap the old u-joints out. takes some oomf, get a BFG (Big effing hammer) and use your 3/8's extension to knock em out.

check that link xfever gave out to you, its a really good write up. You don't need any special tools, just a basic mechanics set (i have a 100pc and so far its let me done quite a few jobs on my xj).

also get spicer u-joints, i got precision but had some fitting troubles with them. just go spicer, don't listen to what anyone else tells you. spicer u-joints thats the brand.

also your axel u-joints and your drive shaft u-joints take different model numbers so make sure you tell them if its an axel or drive shaft u-joint you're looking for (remember spicer u-joints, if they don't sell them go somewhere else that does, your best bet is online).

good luck.

scoot08 · 02-02-2009, 08:21 AM

thanks blacky j thats waht i wanted to know... i have the tools to do it but it just sounded hard to do but that write up helps...