Calgary Jeep Association
4x4 Related Groups => Tech Talk => Topic started by: Tip Over Ter on December 09, 2007, 10:11:18 AM
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This is my 3rd front drive shaft. I am really tired of waking up the whole block as I squeel down the road in the morning. It is getting louder as the temp. gose down here in the cold weather. Dose anyone know if the is something a person can do? Has crysler done anything to fix this problem like maybe adding a GREESE NIPPLE. If there is one thing I dont like about my rubi that would be it. Thanks
Terry
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your problem is the joint with that flex ball thing, it's used and is going to seize any day now. You can lube it all ya want but it wont do you no good. Mine did that this summer and let go somewhere near the Dino national park in the middle of a$$crack nowhere. I had to remove the drive shaft all together. Oh and it can't be rebuilt.
Phil
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actually that joint is completely rebuildable... any parts store should be able to supply the parts ..... i know cause i have one of the flexballs in my parts stash..... just my 2 pennies :wink:
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The CV joints usally have a grease nipple. It has a inverted tip. You would need a fat neddle on you grease gun to grease them and you might have to take the driveshaft out to do it.
I get my driveshafts rebuild about once a year (u-joint, CV joint & splines). DSI does a great job.
It's part 4wheeling. :roll:
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Can that flex joint really make that squeaking noise? I'm on my 2nd winter with that noise. Colder it gets the worse the noise gets. I put all new joints in the driveshaft this summer, inspected the flex joint but couldnt see anything wrong with it yet when it got cold the noise came back. Really bad if left in 2 wheel drive. Goes away eventually in full time though.
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Here's a link with a great writeup on how to change it, also shows the grease fitting location and the tool needed to grease it.
http://www.stu-offroad.com/axle/driveshaft/driveshaft-5.htm
I did the one on my ZJ this summer and it isn't that hard to do, a second set of hands sure helps though. Princess has a U-joint press kind of like the one shown and it would certainly make the job easier than just a vice.
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It makes a heck of a racket. They refer to it as the "Angry Sparrows". I think it sounds like a handful of coathangers scraping against a chalk board. The stock one doesn't have a grease zerk, but if you rebuild it, get one that is greaseable.
SwampSinger,
What kinda price range to get DSI to rebuild things? I have done my ujoints and ball centering kit a number of times. My splines are getting some play. I think I need a cut and weld with a balancing done.
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I hate you guys, this could of saved me a bunch of cash about 6 months ago...
Phil
Never say never, right? :wink:
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That would be great if thats all it is. I'll do it this weekend along with the damn noisy pinion bearings.
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There is no grease nipple in stock front CV's on Rubi's, or any other TJ's that I know of. XJ's may vary, but I doubt.
Doesnt matter, there is no way to get at it without dropping the skid anyways, which is a pain.
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There is no grease nipple in stock front CV's on Rubi's, or any other TJ's that I know of. XJ's may vary, but I doubt.
Doesnt matter, there is no way to get at it without dropping the skid anyways, which is a pain.
Thats the one reason I like my 1" transfercase drip. I can see enough to grease it or get at it to take it off.
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Ok I just did the flex joint in my 97 zj. All good for now. The part I bought was just the ball assembly by itself. It didn't come with the yoke piece as in Troublemakers link. So if theres a next time I will look for this assembly instead as the ball piece is a real bitch to change and its still not greaseable. Also changed all the bearings in my front diff. 1 pinion bearing was shot and 1 carrier bearing. Jeep rolls so quiet now I drove home with the stereo off just to listen to the silence. lol
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Ok I just did the flex joint in my 97 zj. All good for now. The part I bought was just the ball assembly by itself. It didn't come with the yoke piece as in Troublemakers link. So if theres a next time I will look for this assembly instead as the ball piece is a real bitch to change and its still not greaseable. Also changed all the bearings in my front diff. 1 pinion bearing was shot and 1 carrier bearing. Jeep rolls so quiet now I drove home with the stereo off just to listen to the silence. lol
I just changed the ball assembly also when I did mine because that's all the parts store had. I agree it is a PITA to disassemble and will be looking for the complete yoke piece next time around. The plastic dust shield on mine had also long ago ceased to exist and I was unable to find a replacement for it. Mine had 2 of those Alemite grease Zerks on it though so I was able to grease it up after installing it though.
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Jeep rolls so quiet now I drove home with the stereo off just to listen to the silence. lol
lucky basterd, my cd player just decided to die and now that &^#$#&$*)^&*^*@@!! squealing is the only thing I can hear. Here Im trying to get my bud into the jeep thing and the tj is squeeling like the sow from hell... not helping.
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Jeep rolls so quiet now I drove home with the stereo off just to listen to the silence. lol
lucky basterd, my cd player just decided to die and now that &^#$#&$*)^&*^*@@!! squealing is the only thing I can hear. Here Im trying to get my bud into the jeep thing and the tj is squeeling like the sow from hell... not helping.
That silence came at a steep price. All bearings in the front diff and carrier bearings in the rear diff and the flex joint in the driveshaft. But the silence is worth it all. I can't believe I put up with all that noise for so long.
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I though it wasa my wheel hub bearings but it wasnt. I replaced them both, might be the front driveshaft, of a mount somewhere underthere... I cant see anything, my mechanic bud is gunna take er for a drive one of these weekends to pin point it but until then I just have to void the erdge of jammin it into a river.
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For a quick diagnosis, disconnect your driveshaft at the diff (4 x 8mm bolts) mark your driveshaft where it slides together. Pull the front portion off and bungee it up. Then go for a drive. Should tell you really quick if its your front driveshaft or not. Just don't put it in 4WD!
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as far as i have seen all of the jeeps come with a non-greaseable front double cardan (that's what it's called)
if you get it rebuilt,they will put a new yoke (?) with a grease fitting.
It's really fairly easy to replace the ball kit...about 1-2hrs.
The ball kit and rubber boot can be sourced at Pat's for around $35.
Greasing it thru the fitting does much less than rebuilding and greasing.
The absolute most important key point is this: If you let it go 'til the machined end stubshaft of the driveshaft is worn, you need an expensive driveshaft shop repair, however, if you replace the ball kit and boot at the very first sign of angry sparrows, or better yet, seasonally as a maintenance item, your (expensive) driveshaft will last through many (cheap) ball kit replacements.
Q: how do I know this?
A; I probably spent $2400 at Pat's driveline in 2 years of jeepin before I wised up!
this is a classic case demonstrating how much easier it is to fix it before it breaks!
if you're going to try this job, it's best to (obviously) replace the u-joints @ the same time....get ones with low profile ("inverted") grease fittings if you can and make sure the fittings will face out when complete.
I'll step down off the soapbox now.... ;)
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I'm sure your ball kit appreciates the sprayed on lube....MUCH better than nothing!
You should be aware, though that that's obviously a temporary solution and far inferior to actual grease actually inside there...It may not be too late to save the machined shaft end.....
The nice thing about working on these is if it's your d/d you can still drive it w/o the front shaft in.
good luck!!