CV driveshaft ujoint life

bigriver · 10-12-2009, 06:29 PM

Hey folks... Got a quick question.

I have a Tom Woods CV rear shaft that seems to wreak havoc on the ujoints. Currently on week 2 with the latest set and vibrations are appearing. Keep in mind these are the Advance precision brand (I know....). I am getting 5-10K on the rear two ujoints (adj to axle and last CV joint). I try to grease them every oil change (that may be my problem). I have never had a vehicle that required so may ujoints in my life.

In addition to the specs below, I have a 8-degree shim. Shaft angle is fine as far as I can tell. When new joints are in, it drives fine.

How many miles are you all getting on ujoints?

**Louie4** · 10-12-2009, 06:44 PM

Post a pic of your drive line so we can see the angles. Is your rear driveshaft balanced? Does it have any dents?

**kkchevy3** · 10-12-2009, 08:12 PM

how did the new ones feel when you put them in? smooth and easy to rotate?

Plato2k5 · 10-12-2009, 08:15 PM

do this, take a new u-joint and fasten it down to the yoke on the axle. Move it and see if you feel binding, than do the same on the t-case. The yoke flange could be tweaked causing the u-joint to bind.

I had to replace my rear yoke because I couldn't keep u-joints on for more than a week.

bigriver · 10-12-2009, 08:35 PM

Thanks for the reply's

Louie - I'll work on a photo to post.

chevy - smooth as can be. On the last change I did have to reuse a cap because I broke the new during installation. I did check to make sure the needle bearings and the new ujoint was smooth prior to install.

Plato - I will try that. Prior to getting my SYE I broke the rear shaft ujoint. Pretty much ruined my transfer case housing up to the body. Luckly that got my SYE and CV installed quicker and the transfer case was spared. I noticed on install that the axle ujoint had some play. Soon after the rear joint became dust. Fortunately I caught it prior to breaking on the road and had a shop replace the yoke with the ujoint just in case (I was away from home).

How long do you guys typically go on ujoints?

**Joe Dillard** · 10-12-2009, 09:11 PM

I installed a SYE & CV shaft back in December '99 and the same ujoints are still in place as a spare drive shaft since October '06. So ~7 years & still good.

Current rear drive shaft ujoints have been installed since I installed a new rear drive shaft when I swapped in a new tcase (Atlas). Those ujoints are ~3 years old with several tough runs on them.

93jeepyj · 10-12-2009, 09:15 PM

Ive always gotten at least a few years out of them and even then they were just starting to show wear. If the centering ball between the two joints is bad it can trash those new u joint real quick, has yours ever been redone?

**tobias94yj** · 10-12-2009, 09:16 PM

yea make sure the ujoint "snaps into place" on the rear yoke(axle). you should not be able to just place it in there and pull it back out. once it is in place you should have kind of pop the ears of the ujoint out of the yoke.

I would also recommend getting spicer or one of the many other higher end ujoints. I just don't trust some of Autozone or other parts.

bigriver · 10-13-2009, 05:08 PM

I'll try to post some pictures:

That seemed to work....

How's that angle look to everyone?

Sidewinder · 10-13-2009, 05:30 PM

angle looks good to me

**tobias94yj** · 10-13-2009, 06:38 PM

looks good to me also. when I had my d35 my pinion was even angled a little lower than yours and did not go through any ujoints. I still have the one that came with my tom woods ds.

**Joe Dillard** · 10-13-2009, 07:05 PM

Was the rear drive shaft ever taken apart at the slip & then reinstalled?

bigriver · 10-13-2009, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Dillard

Was the rear drive shaft ever taken apart at the slip & then reinstalled?

Are you talking about the old slip drive shaft? Or the CV joint?

If at the CV joint, then yes. A couple of times now by me and others. You think at some point someone didn't put it back together right?

If the drive shaft was out of balance, would you know right away?
I would think so. If not, that maybe what is eating them up?

Sidewinder · 10-14-2009, 09:13 AM

i recently installed a xj front drive shaft in mine. im pretty sure it isnt balanced, but i havent felt vibration, untill a day or two ago that is. im starting to worry but im not totally sure its my driveshaft. i cant tell yet. either way im waiting to see what happens with this thread

Plato2k5 · 10-14-2009, 10:24 AM

do you have bad axle wrap? That would change the angle of the pinion and could cause this.

10-12-2009, 08:35 PM	#5
bigriver Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: SW VA Posts: 18 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Thanks for the reply's Louie - I'll work on a photo to post. chevy - smooth as can be. On the last change I did have to reuse a cap because I broke the new during installation. I did check to make sure the needle bearings and the new ujoint was smooth prior to install. Plato - I will try that. Prior to getting my SYE I broke the rear shaft ujoint. Pretty much ruined my transfer case housing up to the body. Luckly that got my SYE and CV installed quicker and the transfer case was spared. I noticed on install that the axle ujoint had some play. Soon after the rear joint became dust. Fortunately I caught it prior to breaking on the road and had a shop replace the yoke with the ujoint just in case (I was away from home). How long do you guys typically go on ujoints? __________________ 12 JK Rubicon - Soon 94 YJ - sold

10-13-2009, 05:08 PM	#9
bigriver Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: SW VA Posts: 18 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	I'll try to post some pictures: That seemed to work.... How's that angle look to everyone? __________________ 12 JK Rubicon - Soon 94 YJ - sold