What U-joint for 2005 Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited

**stwilson74** · 06-03-2009, 06:47 PM

Thanks in advance for any help. So I have a 2005 Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited Sahara Edition that started getting a driveline vibration... no problem, I have changed plenty of u-joints in my time and knew right where to look for the source of the problem, the rear u-joint on the rear driveshaft showed signs of wear. So I stopped by the local parts shop, got a replacement that they said would fit, tore the shaft out and proceeded to swap the joints only to find the replacement was too small. I went to 5 different stores from different chains (autozone, aid auto, pep boys, roadside, etc...) and they all offered either the little u-joint or one that had one set of caps that looked right and the cross was about right but the second set of caps was larger than the original and had inside clip groves on them. My u-joint has all fouur caps the same size and the shaft uses otside clips, the saddle uses straps... so I am at a total loss. I called Jeep and they said they didn't have one but for $75 could order the proper joint. I asked them for their part number and when I did a google search on it, it came back as being the same as the smaller joint that the other shops had... anybody have any ideas short of bribing a shop employee to let me compare my old one to every u-joint they have on the shelf??? there is a casting of SPR 539 on the old u-joint.

**lumpster** · 06-03-2009, 07:06 PM

take your old joint in, any parts store will let you compare, they dont care, just be nice and most will spend all day with you.

Strizzy · 06-03-2009, 07:20 PM

Like this?

Carquest P/N: 2-4800 (standard, greasable) or 2-4800G (gold series, non-greasable)

472cid · 06-03-2009, 07:28 PM

advance uses the 4800 number also the u joint you spoke of would be a 2-4900 and is for the rear of a ford truck driveshaft. it is 1 1/8 cap on one side and 1 1/16 on the other side. The smaller joint you talked about is a 1310 series joint and also is used in 78 and older ford. If the parts store dont show your joint look up a 79 f 250 long bed and use the joint for the front of the rear driveshaft

**stwilson74** · 06-04-2009, 12:28 PM

Ok folks, thanks for the help... the measurements on mine are it is 3 5/8" across and has all four caps 1 1/16". The parts shops were all pulling u-joints with one pair of 1 1/16" caps and one pair of 1 1/8". I went today and asked them to pull a joint for a 79 Ford F250, it had that same mix of caps... so then I asked them to pull one for a 78 F250 Camper Special (I have one and it has all four caps the same size...) and presto!!! we have a winner!!! so thanks for giving me that idea. I had tried having them look up 2004 and 2006 model Jeeps but didn't think about using my old truck... wish I still had a spare joint on the shelf for it but I don't drive it anymore so I don't break stuff so I dont need spares... anyway, problem solved!

**Jerry Bransford** · 06-04-2009, 12:31 PM

The Rubicon's driveshaft u-joint is different in that it is a combination of a 1310 and 1330 size and most auto parts stores do not carry it. Most will carry 1310 and 1330 u-joints, but not the type the Rubicon uses where it is a combination of the two.

One very good source would be Tom Wood at http://www.4xshaft.com/index.html though of course there are other sources including the dealer.

Doctor7474 · 06-04-2009, 06:24 PM

Spicer part numbers for everything you need to rebuild front and rear drive shafts on a Rubicon I just did it 2 months ago.

5-213X qty 2 U-joints. The two joints in the front drive shaft CV.

5-212X qty 2 U-joints. Front drive shaft to front diff, and rear drive shaft to rear diff.

5-3147X qty 1 U-joints. Rear drive shaft to transfer case.

404-0A qty 1 Ball centering kit for the front CV joint.

All 5 ball joints and the ball centering kit for 152.17 shipped from Action Machine www.actionmachineinc.com

This ball centering kit is not like the one on Stu's website, it is literally just the ball, a seal, and a spring. To replace it you will need to put the yoke part of the center into a vise, use a pull hammer with a small enough inside flange gripper thingy to pull it and the seal out at the same time. Put the ball in, hold the seal around it, get a socket the same size as the seal and hammer the seal in with the socket and hammer, put the spring in the middle before you put the assy back on the drive shaft.

Still had the receipt in my e-mail where I ordered it.
And the place I got the info above from (besides the ball center kit which Action Machine helped me on) is Dana's/Spicer's website: http://www2.dana.com/expertforms/dek350.aspx

**stwilson74** · 06-05-2009, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doctor7474

Spicer part numbers for everything you need to rebuild front and rear drive shafts on a Rubicon I just did it 2 months ago.

5-212X qty 2 U-joints. Front drive shaft to front diff, and rear drive shaft to rear diff.

See that is the type of u-joint that all the parts shops were trying to sell me... BUT... it is NOT correct on mine. That model has two 1 1/8" bearing caps and two 1 1/16" bearing caps. Mine has all four the same size, 1 1/16". My guess is that Jeep/Chrysler made a mid-production run change due to parts availability (hey, it happens) and never reported it out to the parts shops. I bet the two large caps, 1 1/8", were for the Pinion Yoke side, right? They probably changed the yokes and u-joints for a limited number of units. Not a big deal now that I know, the joint I need is exactly the same as the one I used to use on my 1978 Ford F250 Ranger XLT Camper Special... if they hold up to a 460 ci bored 060" over (472 ci) with a four speed and a dana 60 rear, they oughta be able to handle my lil Rubicon unlimited...

472cid · 06-05-2009, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stwilson74

See that is the type of u-joint that all the parts shops were trying to sell me... BUT... it is NOT correct on mine. That model has two 1 1/8" bearing caps and two 1 1/16" bearing caps. Mine has all four the same size, 1 1/16". My guess is that Jeep/Chrysler made a mid-production run change due to parts availability (hey, it happens) and never reported it out to the parts shops. I bet the two large caps, 1 1/8", were for the Pinion Yoke side, right? They probably changed the yokes and u-joints for a limited number of units. Not a big deal now that I know, the joint I need is exactly the same as the one I used to use on my 1978 Ford F250 Ranger XLT Camper Special... if they hold up to a 460 ci bored 060" over (472 ci) with a four speed and a dana 60 rear, they oughta be able to handle my lil Rubicon unlimited...

not my username. I had it from a couple years back had a 71 460 bored .60 over with flat tops dove c heads comp cams 4x4 extreme cam. with homemade fuel injection on top of it all stuffed in a 91 f 350 with 39.5 boggers and a dana 60 front and a sterling 10.25 rear