I put on a Rubicon Express Superflex 3.5 lift about two years ago(24,000 miles). The kit had adjustable upper control arms, and so I adjusted them to set caster until I lost the flighty feel but did not have vibes. The grease stripe has not enlarged since the initial lift install and even after going to 5.13s (drive shaft spinning faster). The boot is not torn as I have not disconnected. No vibes or sounds at all. How long should I push before changing out the front drive shaft? Will it usually give you a warning before failure? Anybody have catastrophic failure with the stock shaft?
Thanks for the input

 

Mine was at that angle and started shooting grease for about 20k miles.

I pulled it out of there, last thing i need is that shit exploding while Im driving. Im sure it could have lasted a bit longer, but i didn't want to risk it

 

If it is still losing grease, odds are that it will dry out and start making noise. But hard to say when, or even if, it will fail. Pull the shaft off and manipulate that joint by hand to see how it flexes/rotates, and you could try working some more grease into it if you can get under the boot.

 

just get a new shaft and be done with it. Nothing like driving down the highway at 70 wondering when my driveshaft will let go and what else it will take with it

 

I agree 100% with deadguy. Almost a year to the day I installed my lift, my rear shaft started spraying grease. I drove on it for about two weeks worrying when and if it would fail. Then I bought a new shaft with yokes for the t-case and rear axle and my fears melted away.

Better to deal with it now, than to have to replace a t-case or other expensive component. If cost is a concern, I would recommend you remove it entirely until you can get a new shaft kit. Since it's the front shaft, you don't need it for daily driving.

 

Lol. I had the same thought. I know I gots a dirty mind!

 

Stock cv joints are not serviceable. You can't just grease them, it will spit out just like the stock grease, why bother? Look at the angle and bind in your pics. as mentioned replace before it even gets close to failure. If it fails, it could take out your t case or other components. Why gamble?

 

Ya why read what thread is about. If she doesnt in under 3 weeks you might have an issue

 

That’s frickin funny. I read your reply and had to go back and read the title.

I have the same lift and that angle is not what you want to see. I got mine two – three weeks after the lift was installed. If money is an issue you should start now and change the front one first and do the back later.

 

Hey, how much dirtier can this thread get, my shaft is spitting grease. Anyway after replacing the stock drive shaft with a double cardin (coast 1310), do you have to significantly decrease your caster and deal with the flighty feeling, or given what my stock angle looks like, would I be able to maintain my current caster setting? Anything else I could do to keep my current on road manners.