TJ U-Joints

[Jaydog]

Ok, maybe this is a stupid question, but here goes. I am replacing the U-Joints in my front driveline, It is an '04 TJ, double cardan at one end and regular u-joint at the other. None of the original u-joints have zerks, so the question is...Does anyone offer an aftermarket that has zerk fittings that will work on the driveline? and What is the best u-joints to get?

 

[KarlVP]

I use the spicer joints. I had GMB's in the rear and one of those failed after only 3 months.

Anywho, I reccomend the greaseable joints, this way, you can service them and keep lots of fresh grease in there. Some say they are weaker, which may be true, but I haven't had any failures of the spicer greaseable ones. They have worn out on me, but never failed.

 

[JOOP]

go with spicer. I have tom woods golden seal ones but there nothing special other than a gold seal instead of a black one. DO NOT get autozones Brute Force joints. They go boom, atleast the axle joints do. Plus they dont have a zerk fitting.

 

[TreeClimber]

Ok, maybe this is a stupid question, but here goes. I am replacing the U-Joints in my front driveline, It is an '04 TJ, double cardan at one end and regular u-joint at the other. None of the original u-joints have zerks, so the question is...Does anyone offer an aftermarket that has zerk fittings that will work on the driveline? and What is the best u-joints to get?

First, why?

Don't often see u-joint replacements, especially front ones, this early in a rigs life. So why?

And to directly answer your question, Spicer has the reputation as the strongest factory replacement joints. Although Tom Woods Joints are also the shizzle because they are zerked thru the cap -v- Spicers are zerked thru the body. On the Carden Joint, it's very difficult to get that inner joint zerked unless the carden is flexed open, and that can't happen with it attached to the axle.

Second, what?

Your factory driveshaft doesn't have zerks? WTF! I thought ALL driveshafts had zerks. Where have I been?

T

 

[Jaydog]

First, why?

Don't often see u-joint replacements, especially front ones, this early in a rigs life. So why?

18K miles on the rig, but it was making a horrid sound in the front end, so I took the driveline off and ran it, and it was def. coming from the driveline. That's what I get for taking it through the mud pits

Second, what?

Your factory driveshaft doesn't have zerks? WTF! I thought ALL driveshafts had zerks. Where have I been?

T

Nope, no zerks on any of the u joints on the front, I thought it was kinda goofy too.

 

[mumblewood]

I run the spicer's also and you can grease the inner joint through the hole in the skid with a needel valve. Before I switched to those I was driving home one day and I thought the Jeep was driving kinda rough and before I could pull over to check it out it came flying out on the freeway it also scraped both yokes and cracked the t-case housing

 

[t1h5ta3]

you can get spicers that greese thru the cap.....

 

[Jaydog]

So it ends up that the squeek is coming from the ball centering assembly, in the CV. So the U-joints are ok, but I may replace them anyway since it is apart, and that way I will be able to grease them.