u joint problem...
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JK Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 196
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From: miami
u joint problem...
ok i stopped by a local jeep shop to have my jeeps suspension checked. i finally gave up tring to figure out whats out of wack with the front end... and they found a few issues that i had not noticed and one i'm glad they had noticed.
first thing they found is my tie rod ends from the pitman to the right side are defective/damaged. and need to be replaced. not the rod itself but the bolts/units that join the rod to the assemblys. i figure if it was damaged it makes since it's a side affect from the deathwobble which was not noticed.
second: my axle u-joint on drivers side is missing a cap. he told me this is critical! and that he is not suprised as hes seen a few already with the same problem. something about them being bronze and plastic clip? not to sure on the mechanics of a u-joint assembly. but also said they were designed poorly for any real offroading and more so for any modded jeep and would problably continue to have a problem with them unless jeep redesigns them with all metal or something... this is all about 2 weeks after i got my jeep back from the front axle rebuild so not sure if it had it then and was overlooked or happened after. but i havn't taken it offroad since the rebuild so i am a little puzzled as to the cause. needless to say its something serious i'm glad i happened to take it in for a inspection.
anyone have had this happen yet?
i took to the dealer immedatily and after a little bit of a strugle, and once we got passed oh your jeep is modified... they agreed to replace the part (which in dealer style is to replace the axle shaft assembly) and they will take care of the tie-rods supposidly.
anyways here are the pics
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first thing they found is my tie rod ends from the pitman to the right side are defective/damaged. and need to be replaced. not the rod itself but the bolts/units that join the rod to the assemblys. i figure if it was damaged it makes since it's a side affect from the deathwobble which was not noticed.
second: my axle u-joint on drivers side is missing a cap. he told me this is critical! and that he is not suprised as hes seen a few already with the same problem. something about them being bronze and plastic clip? not to sure on the mechanics of a u-joint assembly. but also said they were designed poorly for any real offroading and more so for any modded jeep and would problably continue to have a problem with them unless jeep redesigns them with all metal or something... this is all about 2 weeks after i got my jeep back from the front axle rebuild so not sure if it had it then and was overlooked or happened after. but i havn't taken it offroad since the rebuild so i am a little puzzled as to the cause. needless to say its something serious i'm glad i happened to take it in for a inspection.
anyone have had this happen yet?
i took to the dealer immedatily and after a little bit of a strugle, and once we got passed oh your jeep is modified... they agreed to replace the part (which in dealer style is to replace the axle shaft assembly) and they will take care of the tie-rods supposidly.
anyways here are the pics
[IMG]
[/IMG][IMG]
[/IMG]
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 176
Likes: 0
I had the same problem. After driving all the way from Phoenix Az to South Lake Tahoe, I began to hear a "clunking" noise just as we were to start the Rubicon Trail. The u-joint on the drivers side lost an end cap and caused the stub shaft axle to become real messed up. We pulled the axle and drove back to town. After 2 hours of phone calls, we located the only replacement stub shaft around.......in Arkansas! Had it overnighted to Sacramento CA, then set up "shop" at the hotel parking lot. We were able to do the trail, but when I got home I called DC about the problem. Guess what?????? They said "we can't reemburse you for the part. You should have taken it to the closest Jeep Dealership". No big deal, cost me about $280.00.
Word of advise....always check the u-joint clips before and after hitting a trail.
BTW, the replacement u-joint they sent had metal clips.
Word of advise....always check the u-joint clips before and after hitting a trail.
BTW, the replacement u-joint they sent had metal clips.
JK Freak
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 598
Likes: 0
From: Roswell, GA
yeah like stated above, they are known for spitting caps and usually it will rip an ear off at least one of the shafts as well.........you should try and get them to give you the old shaft so you can throw a cheap joint in and use it as a spare. I would also tack weld the caps to the ears on the front shafts once you get home, this helps them last longer.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 176
Likes: 0
I to have heard about "tack welding the caps", but have been advised against doing it. Seemed like a good idea to me, but was told that quite often when this is done, the roller bearings will have a problem of their own if the person doing the welding "over does it". Seems to me that there must be a aftermarket u-joint that won't have the problem of the clips falling off. Anyone heard of such an animal?
JK Freak
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 598
Likes: 0
From: Roswell, GA
I to have heard about "tack welding the caps", but have been advised against doing it. Seemed like a good idea to me, but was told that quite often when this is done, the roller bearings will have a problem of their own if the person doing the welding "over does it". Seems to me that there must be a aftermarket u-joint that won't have the problem of the clips falling off. Anyone heard of such an animal?
Well thats why you just tack the caps in 2 or 3 places vs. laying an actual bead down which would cause too much heat and ruin the grease/bearings. Well you can spend the $$ and by some CTM's!!! Or get some Superjoints which would also relieve you of the problem.
JK Junkie
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,123
Likes: 1
From: Chattanooga, TN
I to have heard about "tack welding the caps", but have been advised against doing it. Seemed like a good idea to me, but was told that quite often when this is done, the roller bearings will have a problem of their own if the person doing the welding "over does it". Seems to me that there must be a aftermarket u-joint that won't have the problem of the clips falling off. Anyone heard of such an animal?
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Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 196
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From: miami
k so i'm not alone here, didn't think about the tacking sounds like a great idea. man i've had so many problems with my front end already, i just don't have much faith in the stock 30. already sheared the front track bar bracket had it rewelded, this is my 4th steering shock, my tierod ends on the steering are shot, and already blew up a set of gears and had the front rebuilt, then redone again cuz the dealer put in a bad rear seal on the unit and it was leaking from the back where the shaft goes in. the swaybar disconects from full traction i got suck, they have all sorts of slop now. and this is all in last 6months :( i guess i have just been the unluck noob.
well luckily most of this has been covered by the warrianty so it hasn't been too tragic yet. but does make me loose much faith in the durablity of the front end. plus if all this has happened in my first year whats to come in the next few once my warrianty is up? i've pretty much decided on swapping out to a d44 in soon in lew of upgrading the stock d30 with shafts etc. hopefully i won't have the same gremlins with the d44.
so anyways sorry for the rant... so this is a common thing for the axle to eject the caps? and i the shop guy was right for me to expect it to continue?
it really drives me nuts when the dealer tech tells me the reason for the faliure is "submerging" the joints lol... i went off on him and showed him the manual where it stated water fording up to whatever inches... can't beleive he would say water damaged it, not to mention i have not submerged my jeep in the first place...
anyways so tacking a good idea till i can get aftermarket units?
well luckily most of this has been covered by the warrianty so it hasn't been too tragic yet. but does make me loose much faith in the durablity of the front end. plus if all this has happened in my first year whats to come in the next few once my warrianty is up? i've pretty much decided on swapping out to a d44 in soon in lew of upgrading the stock d30 with shafts etc. hopefully i won't have the same gremlins with the d44.
so anyways sorry for the rant... so this is a common thing for the axle to eject the caps? and i the shop guy was right for me to expect it to continue?
it really drives me nuts when the dealer tech tells me the reason for the faliure is "submerging" the joints lol... i went off on him and showed him the manual where it stated water fording up to whatever inches... can't beleive he would say water damaged it, not to mention i have not submerged my jeep in the first place...
anyways so tacking a good idea till i can get aftermarket units?
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 207
Likes: 0
From: Aurora, CO
k so i'm not alone here, didn't think about the tacking sounds like a great idea. man i've had so many problems with my front end already, i just don't have much faith in the stock 30. already sheared the front track bar bracket had it rewelded, this is my 4th steering shock, my tierod ends on the steering are shot, and already blew up a set of gears and had the front rebuilt, then redone again cuz the dealer put in a bad rear seal on the unit and it was leaking from the back where the shaft goes in. the swaybar disconects from full traction i got suck, they have all sorts of slop now. and this is all in last 6months :( i guess i have just been the unluck noob.
well luckily most of this has been covered by the warrianty so it hasn't been too tragic yet. but does make me loose much faith in the durablity of the front end. plus if all this has happened in my first year whats to come in the next few once my warrianty is up? i've pretty much decided on swapping out to a d44 in soon in lew of upgrading the stock d30 with shafts etc. hopefully i won't have the same gremlins with the d44.
Save your money and replace the axles with some qaulity aftermarket axles.....why replace Mopar junk with Mopar junk?
so anyways sorry for the rant... so this is a common thing for the axle to eject the caps? and i the shop guy was right for me to expect it to continue?
it really drives me nuts when the dealer tech tells me the reason for the faliure is "submerging" the joints lol... i went off on him and showed him the manual where it stated water fording up to whatever inches... can't beleive he would say water damaged it, not to mention i have not submerged my jeep in the first place...
anyways so tacking a good idea till i can get aftermarket units?
well luckily most of this has been covered by the warrianty so it hasn't been too tragic yet. but does make me loose much faith in the durablity of the front end. plus if all this has happened in my first year whats to come in the next few once my warrianty is up? i've pretty much decided on swapping out to a d44 in soon in lew of upgrading the stock d30 with shafts etc. hopefully i won't have the same gremlins with the d44.
Save your money and replace the axles with some qaulity aftermarket axles.....why replace Mopar junk with Mopar junk?
so anyways sorry for the rant... so this is a common thing for the axle to eject the caps? and i the shop guy was right for me to expect it to continue?
it really drives me nuts when the dealer tech tells me the reason for the faliure is "submerging" the joints lol... i went off on him and showed him the manual where it stated water fording up to whatever inches... can't beleive he would say water damaged it, not to mention i have not submerged my jeep in the first place...
anyways so tacking a good idea till i can get aftermarket units?
If your really worried about it...save your money and replace the ales with something from Dynarape, Durrie or Sunray. Why replace Mopar junk with Mopar junk?
Last edited by onsafari; Aug 28, 2007 at 06:28 AM.
JK Junkie
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,123
Likes: 1
From: Chattanooga, TN