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front u joints #887859 05/28/08 08:04 PM
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 9
T
thunder72 Offline OP
Need a Spot
I am going to replace the front u joints but I've hear that tear up the wheel bearings while doing this happen 9out of 10 times. The problem is a small click when I trun and a little vibration when my steering wheel is returning to center. Any help would be great thanks

Re: front u joints [Re: thunder72] #887860 05/29/08 06:30 AM
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,087
BobRowe Offline
Body Damage is Cool
I don't know where you heard that, but it's not true.

I've replaced the u-joints on my front axle shafts on my 77 CJ7 twice. Each time, I pulled the shafts, and took them to a fairly large local auto parts store that does some machine shop work. I had them install new u-joints both times, and also dust shields one of those times.

After I reinstalled the axle shafts, I had no problem whatsoever with the wheel bearings. Of course, I cleaned out the hub and greased the wheel bearings and races like I should.

The hardest part of the job was getting the spindles off. They sort of get rusted in place and are a bugger to get off. The first time I did it, which was the first time they had been off since new (about 18 years), it took me about 2 hours of sweat to get the spindles off. The second time (about 8 years later), they came off pretty easily.

BTW, as long as you have the spindles off, you might as well replace the spindle bearings. As well as the axle seals.


1977 CJ-7, fiberglass body, AMC 360 w/ headers, DUI ignition, Edelbrock intake and Holley 4150 carb, TF999, Dana 300, 4.56 gears lockers, York air comp, 4" susp lift, 2" body lift, BFG 35" M-T tires, Megashifter, AGR pump & box, REP8000 winch.
Re: front u joints [Re: thunder72] #887861 05/29/08 12:05 PM
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 692
B
Bigbird79 Offline
Rock Warrior
What model and year Jeep, and how many miles?


99 XJ Sport 2 Door, 4.0L, 5 speed, all stock. Daily Driver
79 F150 Standard Cab Short Box, 400ci, NP435, NP205, 35" SSRs
Re: front u joints [Re: Bigbird79] #887862 05/29/08 08:10 PM
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 9
T
thunder72 Offline OP
Need a Spot
It's a 97 wrangler with about 77,000 miles.

Re: front u joints [Re: thunder72] #887863 05/30/08 04:31 AM
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 692
B
Bigbird79 Offline
Rock Warrior
Yeah, I doubt you would damage the bearings, just take your time and use lots of your favorite whizbang (ie PB Blaster). However, the bearings in the hub assemblies for the Dana 30 usually go bad with a stock set up around 100K miles anyway. I just had to replace my bearings (they were rather rough, and noisy), and in hind site, I should have done the u joints while I was there, I am sure mine are stock, it just didn't cross my mind until just now when you asked. LOL

Sean


99 XJ Sport 2 Door, 4.0L, 5 speed, all stock. Daily Driver
79 F150 Standard Cab Short Box, 400ci, NP435, NP205, 35" SSRs

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