Time for a new driveshaft - OEM or Custom?

clreinstein · **Posted:** Wed Dec 17, 2008 4:57 pm

Hood297 wrote:

any updates on the JE Reel? I have gone through another rear CV boot, bought a used one about a year and 20K miles ago.

Im not screwing with another stock piece of crap. how tough is it to change out the flanges?

Im going to this place http://www.axle-exchange.com/.
They are a sponsor for my local jeep club. He's gonna measure and figure out what is needed to convert the front shaft to something similar to what Tom Woods does. Ill report back with what he is able to build and the price. Once he comes up with a ujoint based replacement for mine you should have no problem ordering one based off what he made for me.

They should also be able to produce cut CV's to work with the higher lift kits for less than Al or JE Reel.

Hood297 · **Posted:** Wed Dec 17, 2008 8:01 pm

clreinstein wrote:

Hood297 wrote:

any updates on the JE Reel? I have gone through another rear CV boot, bought a used one about a year and 20K miles ago.

Im not screwing with another stock piece of crap. how tough is it to change out the flanges?

Im going to this place http://www.axle-exchange.com/.
They are a sponsor for my local jeep club. He's gonna measure and figure out what is needed to convert the front shaft to something similar to what Tom Woods does. Ill report back with what he is able to build and the price. Once he comes up with a ujoint based replacement for mine you should have no problem ordering one based off what he made for me.

They should also be able to produce cut CV's to work with the higher lift kits for less than Al or JE Reel.

That sounds great! Just let me know what you find out. I am going to be needing this soon (2< months). trying to figure out all my options...

rescu2000 · **Posted:** Wed Dec 17, 2008 8:18 pm

I hope he knows what he's getting into on cutting the CV's. I've read that they are some really hard steel. they chew up tooling.

Wasatch15 · **Joined:** Wed Jul 13, 2005 7:52 am **Posts:** 242

After you have all parts to install new shaft
You have to remove all the bolts that hold the companion flanges together to remove the driveshaft
Drain differential fluid
Remove the large nut securing the flange to the pinion of the front differential
Remove flange from splined shaft
Install new oil seal
Install new yoke (for u-joint)
Be careful when tightening nut on pinion as backlash can be changed by over tightening
Re-fill differential

Drain transfer case
Remove the large nut securing the flange to the transfer case
Remove flange from splined shaft
Install new oil seal
Install new yoke
Re-fill transfer case

I installed a Tom Woods awhile ago. If you want my file on what parts I used just e-mail me. wasatch@utahbroadband.com

Ron

03jeepkj · **Posted:** Sun Dec 28, 2008 4:01 am

will it hurt anything if I were to drive with the front drive shaft off the vehicle for a week or 2 till i can get a new one?

clreinstein · **Posted:** Sun Dec 28, 2008 11:28 am

Wasatch15 wrote:

After you have all parts to install new shaft
You have to remove all the bolts that hold the companion flanges together to remove the driveshaft
Drain differential fluid
Remove the large nut securing the flange to the pinion of the front differential
Remove flange from splined shaft
Install new oil seal
Install new yoke (for u-joint)
Be careful when tightening nut on pinion as backlash can be changed by over tightening
Re-fill differential

Drain transfer case
Remove the large nut securing the flange to the transfer case
Remove flange from splined shaft
Install new oil seal
Install new yoke
Re-fill transfer case

I installed a Tom Woods awhile ago. If you want my file on what parts I used just e-mail me. wasatch@utahbroadband.com

Ron

I tried emailing you a couple times to get that file but the email was sent back. Can you post the file here?

Hood297 · **Posted:** Sun Dec 28, 2008 12:47 pm

03jeepkj wrote:

will it hurt anything if I were to drive with the front drive shaft off the vehicle for a week or 2 till i can get a new one?

not at all

clreinstein, Any updates on the place you were looking at getting a shaft from?

clreinstein · **Posted:** Sun Dec 28, 2008 12:55 pm

Hood297 wrote:

03jeepkj wrote:

will it hurt anything if I were to drive with the front drive shaft off the vehicle for a week or 2 till i can get a new one?

not at all

clreinstein, Any updates on the place you were looking at getting a shaft from?

He ordered the new flanges and I will be putting them in next week and getting the new driveshaft measurements so he can build the shaft. Once its all done I will post an update with parts and cost.

Time for a new driveshaft - OEM or Custom?

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