U Joints in the front - solid axle in the rear.

Does this Jeep have an autolocker like an Aussie or anything up front?

 

U Joints in the front - solid axle in the rear.

Could they be factory? Does that mean I don't have CV joints or CV joint boots on this Jeep at all? If so, what could account for my clicking around sharp turns?

Does this Jeep have an autolocker like an Aussie or anything up front?

I'm the second owner so I don't know for sure. Where should I look for something like that relative to the photo I took?

 

Could they be factory? Does that mean I don't have CV joints or CV joint boots on this Jeep at all? If so, what could account for my clicking around sharp turns?

I'm the second owner so I don't know for sure. Where should I look for something like that relative to the photo I took?

No you do not have CV joints.

Where do you look for a locker relative to the pictures you took? No where. Inside the differential is where you need to look.

 

All TJ's left the Jeep factory with u-joints.

If they make noises, they probably need to be replaced. You should stop by a trusted repair shop or mechanic for a proper diagnosis of the noises.

 

Does this Jeep have an autolocker like an Aussie or anything up front?

Why do you ask? Does anything in my photo indicate lockers?

You do not have CV joints on the front axle on your Jeep. You don't have them or U-joints in the rear either. Unless of course you have one of those fancy four wheel steer Jeeps.

Now I get it.

The replacement U-joint if indeed you want to replace them is Spicer 5-760x.

How do you know if they need to be replaced? Clicking noises around turns?

 

If it's got a locker you'd have to open the differential and see. If you DID have one though, it would have been clicking the entire time, it wouldn't be a recent development.

That makes me wonder cause the Jeep has always sort of lurched through low-speed, very-tight turns. Like in a parking lot when I'm trying to make a really sharp turn. It's weird. It sort of jumps forward and stops over and over through the turn. Does that sound like lockers?

 

That makes me wonder cause the Jeep has always sort of lurched through low-speed, very-tight turns.

Often the first symptom of a failing u-joint.

You do not have lockers. If you think you do, remove the differential covers and look inside to make the determination.

 

You may be puzzled by the "no CV joint in the rear" comments. If you have a lifted Jeep and an upgraded aftermarket driveshaft, you might have a CV joint on that driveshaft in the rear. If you thought you had read somewhere about CV joints in the rear, you aren't going crazy, you just read about them on the driveshaft rather than the outer axle.

Wikipedia has a great page on CV joints: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constant-velocity_joint

But yeah, you don't have them on your axles, so that's not your issue. Go ahead and take a look inside your axles. If you haven't ever taken your differential covers off on a used Jeep, you ought to do that anyway so that you can clean them up, check for damage and see what you've got in there, and so you can change your differential oil. Plenty of axle problems start with old or waterlogged differential oil, and it sounds like you have no idea when it was last changed.

It does sound like you might have a lunchbox locker in the front -- which would be great -- but that would have been clicking from day one. Search for some pics of what they look like installed. My locker install thread has some pics and there are lots of other threads that have them.

 

You may be puzzled by the "no CV joint in the rear" comments. If you have a lifted Jeep and an upgraded aftermarket driveshaft, you might have a CV joint on that driveshaft in the rear. If you thought you had read somewhere about CV joints in the rear, you aren't going crazy, you just read about them on the driveshaft rather than the outer axle.

Wikipedia has a great page on CV joints: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constant-velocity_joint

But yeah, you don't have them on your axles, so that's not your issue.

And technically speaking you don't have them on your driveshaft.

 

:hahaha:

I have U-joints on the front and CV joints on the rear

:rofl:

:cheers2:

 

That makes me wonder cause the Jeep has always sort of lurched through low-speed, very-tight turns.

Often the first symptom of a failing u-joint.

It sounds like I should replace one or both of my U-joints. Is there any way to find out for sure if they need to be replaced? Are they always replaced in pairs?

I'll check for lockers, clean things up, and change the diff oil while I'm in there. Is this the process I need to follow:

http://www.stu-offroad.com/axle/d30/axle-1.htm
http://www.stu-offroad.com/axle/d30/axle-2.htm

or:

http://www.nagca.com/grandtech/dana30wheelbearing.htm

I wonder if that's over my head. Removing the axle nut sounds tough.

 

You can leave the unit hub installed on the axle shaft and still have enough room to change the u-joints. This will save you some time and effort.

U joints are replaced as they wear out, if you can't determine the source of the noises, replace both.

Following the info on Stu's website, look around, there is tons of good info and tips. Buy, rent or borrow a ball joint press and use it to speed up the u-joint replacement.

Read this: http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f9/what-cv-shaft-why-do-i-want-one-854790/

 

You can leave the unit hub installed on the axle shaft and still have enough room to change the u-joints. This will save you some time and effort.

Would I follow all the normal instructions except for removing the axle nut?

I've gone over and over the photos but I'm not sure I can visualize what exactly is happening. I think the axle is removed from one end of the U-joint and normally the hub is removed from the other end, although I could also leave the hub on? That means I would work on the U-joint itself with the hub attached? Can I leave the axle in the tube?

U joints are replaced as they wear out, if you can't determine the source of the noises, replace both.

My lurching around tight turns at low speed is a symptom of worn out U-joints though? It's pretty annoying.

Is it dangerous to drive on U-joints that are wearing out?

 

Would I follow all the normal instructions except for removing the axle nut?

I've gone over and over the photos but I'm not sure I can visualize what exactly is happening. I think the axle is removed from one end of the U-joint and normally the hub is removed from the other end, although I could also leave the hub on? That means I would work on the U-joint itself with the hub attached? Can I leave the axle in the tube?

My lurching around tight turns at low speed is a symptom of worn out U-joints though? It's pretty annoying.

Is it dangerous to drive on U-joints that are wearing out?

Not so much dangerous, but will end up costing 10x as much to replace the axle shaft or more.

 

Remove the tire, caliper, disk brake. Remove the 3 13mm bolts and pull the hub and axle shaft from the axle tube all as one piece. Replace the u-joints.

When you re-install the axle shaft hold them up and out of the goo on the bottom of the axle tube and carefully and gently guide them into place. I the end of the shaft goes through a seal in the tube. If you just jam the axle in, you can dislodge the seal.

Noises, steering wheel wiggle and/or lurching around tight turns, and visual inspection will show worn u-joints. See Stu's u-joint inspection page.

More info:
Unit Bearing - 1
D-30 Axle Shaft Removal
U-Joint Replacement - 1
DELTA 4X4 CLUB TECHNICAL DEPARTMENT - U-JOINT REPLACEMENT

Harbor Freight U-Joint Tool
3-in-1 Ball Joint/U-Joint/C-Frame Press Service Kit

 

See Stu's u-joint inspection page.

Got it:

http://www.stu-offroad.com/axle/ujoint4/ujoint4-1.htm

I think mine should be replaced. Stu says:

"Your front and rear drive shafts have u-joints"

I thought there were no U-joints in the rear on vehicles with 2-wheel steering?

What else should I clean/replace/inspect/maintain while I'm in there? I figure I'll change differential grease and check for lockers. Is this a good time to check brake pads for wear?

 

Axle Shafts are inside the axle. Front axles have u-joints, rear axles do not.

Drive Shafts connect the axles to the Transfer Case.

 

JK's have CV's.

What??????

 

JKs definitely have u joints up front :laugh:

Eh?.. Why, what I say? :rofl:

 

Your noise sounds more like a bad unit bearing in the front end, in the spindle assembly.

You need to take it somewhere that specializes in steering and suspension.

 

Should I be changing the U-joints on the drive shafts too? Are they as important to change as the ones on the axles?

 

At some point the drive shaft u-joints will need replacing. They usually make a roaring noise or a thrum thrum thrum sound at highway speeds when they go bad.

Why the F*** would anybody care what JK's have ?