Intermitten Vibration - U-Joint?
#1
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Intermitten Vibration - U-Joint?
For a few months I've noticed a vibration while I drive. It started off only doing it a few times a week and now vibrates several times a day while driving. I have a 2010 JKU with 124K. It doesn't matter if I slow down or accelerate, the vibration is still there. The steering wheel does not move around when this happens. I was told that it was more than likely u-joints. This may show my auto ignorance, but when I look under the jeep at the drive shaft, where I figured the u joint would be, I see two bolted ends and rubber boot in the middle. Are the u-joints that need replaced under the rubber boot?
#2
JK Jedi
That rubber boot is just covering the splines where the DS compresses/extends. The front DS has a CV joint on the TC side, and a u-joint on the diff side, but that u-joint is actually not replaceable. The rear DS has CV joints at both ends. Other than that, you have a u-joint in each front axle shaft.
When I say the front DS u-joint is not replaceable, I mean it doesn't have retaining clips and it's meant to be replaced. There are a few that have found a way to do it, but honestly, it's not worth the effort.
I would start by searching a couple youtube vids that will show you how to check a u-joint for play. This is something you can crawl under the jeep and shake the DS there by the u-joint and tell if you're feeling any play or not.
Usually when a u-joint goes bad, you'll start to hear it clicking.
When I say the front DS u-joint is not replaceable, I mean it doesn't have retaining clips and it's meant to be replaced. There are a few that have found a way to do it, but honestly, it's not worth the effort.
I would start by searching a couple youtube vids that will show you how to check a u-joint for play. This is something you can crawl under the jeep and shake the DS there by the u-joint and tell if you're feeling any play or not.
Usually when a u-joint goes bad, you'll start to hear it clicking.
#3
Super Moderator
As an FYI, this is what a U-Joint looks like. The part that typically needs replacing is the "+" shaped part that holds the "U" sections of each side together (ie U-Joint).
Pic of U-Joint
Vibrations, are typically tied to a problem with the drive shaft, so U-joints on the front drive share are a good guess without actually inspecting it. Depending on how the vibration feels and given your 124K mileage, I'ld say wheel bearing hubs may be another possible concern for vibrations from the front. However, with that said if the wheel bearing hubs needed replacing I'ld suspect you would have seen some lights on your dash light up.
Pic of Wheel bearing hubs
Pic of U-Joint
Vibrations, are typically tied to a problem with the drive shaft, so U-joints on the front drive share are a good guess without actually inspecting it. Depending on how the vibration feels and given your 124K mileage, I'ld say wheel bearing hubs may be another possible concern for vibrations from the front. However, with that said if the wheel bearing hubs needed replacing I'ld suspect you would have seen some lights on your dash light up.
Pic of Wheel bearing hubs
Last edited by Rednroll; 09-14-2018 at 04:39 PM.
#4
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Thanks for the input guys. I haven't had a chance to look into this but it's good to know what I'm looking for. I'll update once I figure out the problem.
#5
JK Junkie
i know i covered this topic before . lol you can not replace a u joint in drive shaft on a 2012 or later maybe prior years maybe but i know on a 2012 forward the whole drive shaft would need to be replaced the u joint can not be replaced a factory front drive shaft is upwards of 800 .00 and id imagine rear would be close ( a aftermarket would be best option or find a good used one from some one who lifted there jeep maybe 3 " or higher ) best of luck
Last edited by jeepmojo; 09-19-2018 at 03:27 PM.
#6
JK Jedi Master
For a few months I've noticed a vibration while I drive. It started off only doing it a few times a week and now vibrates several times a day while driving. I have a 2010 JKU with 124K. It doesn't matter if I slow down or accelerate, the vibration is still there. The steering wheel does not move around when this happens. I was told that it was more than likely u-joints. This may show my auto ignorance, but when I look under the jeep at the drive shaft, where I figured the u joint would be, I see two bolted ends and rubber boot in the middle. Are the u-joints that need replaced under the rubber boot?
Last edited by Mark Doiron; 09-20-2018 at 12:08 AM.