My CV axle is ruined! *picture posted*

kickit_in4wheel · **Posted:** Mon Mar 20, 2006 4:58 pm

So this morning, I was driving through a drive in, and I had the window down. Noticed a clicking sound while the jeep was rolling. I got out to look, and my CV boot was completely severed, and green grease is all over the place. I haven't done any off-roading lately, and it was not damaged when i checked under my jeep after the last trail ride. My CVs aren't at a very good angle, pictures of them after I lifted can be seen in the picture page. They haven't settled much at all since the pictures were taken.

What's next? I have no clue how to change a CV. Do I change both sides? How much should I expect to pay if I take it somewhere? I priced the CVs at autozone, and there was a note that said engine alignment is critical for this repair, and that changing the motor mounts is highly recommended. I doubt that's a sales pitch- the motor mounts are not available through autozone. how long can a drive on it liek this before it ruins something else?

Any and all feedback is appreciated guys, I'm LOST.

Rick

raceinfan · **Posted:** Mon Mar 20, 2006 5:14 pm

Rick if I were you I'd do both sides but I've always lived by that rule, did the lift settle any?

kickit_in4wheel · **Posted:** Mon Mar 20, 2006 5:18 pm

The lift has not settled very much. I can't be sure, I bought my KJ used, but these are probably original CVs.

Jeepin Al · **Posted:** Mon Mar 20, 2006 5:58 pm

I can get you some JE Reel HD half shafts. They are just as expensive as OEM, but much stronger. I would need to check for availability and current price. If you don't want to go that way, NAPA can get them, but there is a shortage of half shafts. You can take yours off, ride around in two wheel drive and have yours rebuilt local, send them to JE Reel.

Al

kickit_in4wheel · **Posted:** Mon Mar 20, 2006 6:11 pm

PM sent Al.

jg45 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 20, 2006 6:30 pm

If you have an O'Reilly Auto Parts near by, they seem to have the best price on the A1 Cardone remanufactured halfshaft. I tore a boot and had to replace the passenger side shaft because I could not find just the boot. The hardest part was getting the clevis back onto the control arm. I also managed to tear the LBJ boot and got to replace it at the same time. I did not have to do anything with the motor mounts or engine alignment. The remanufactured halfshaft seemed to have been put together at a higher altitude or something. It had a vacuum on the cv boot and it kept collapsing. I carefully took the band off of it and let the pressure equalize and then put the band back on.

Eddo · **Joined:** Thu Jul 07, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 1214

I can't see how motor mounts and engine alignment would affect the CV's in anyways. Maybe in a trans axles set-up, but not in ours.

Jeepin Al · **Posted:** Mon Mar 20, 2006 8:47 pm

Rick,

I figured that I would ans you here so everyone knows whats up. There is a web based used car/truck parts service that looks all over the county fro used parts, I think its QAP.com I need to look it up, since I changed computers I don't have it bookmarked anymore. They will get you used half shafts. There is a shortage in rebuildable halfshalfs last I heard. If you can get ones at pepeboys or o'riellys they will most likely be cheaper than JE Reel. Their half shafts are real HD and haven't made a peep yet at my lift height (around 3.5 inches).

They are fairly easy, but time consuming to install. You must take just about the entire front end apart, meaning taking off the steering knuckle, strut and than pulling the axle.

Quick fix, if the boot aint too bad, clean it with brake cleaner, after fill the opposite side from the tear with grease. Go out and get a real good tube of silicon and seal the hole. Let it set at least a dayor a day in a half. You would be surprised how quiet the cv's get when you add new grease.

Al

RedJeepCRD · **Posted:** Mon Mar 20, 2006 11:46 pm

Rick,

I just so happen to know that Steve (Camper) has two CV shafts for a 2002 Jeep Liberty. I know because I sold them to him when I got my CRD, which uses different CVs. Give Steve a call I believe he still has them.

Wes

jpzkj · **Posted:** Tue Mar 21, 2006 12:19 am

Jeepin Al wrote:

I can get you some JE Reel HD half shafts. They are just as expensive as OEM, but much stronger. I would need to check for availability and current price. If you don't want to go that way, NAPA can get them, but there is a shortage of half shafts. You can take yours off, ride around in two wheel drive and have yours rebuilt local, send them to JE Reel.

Al

J.E Reel makes some BEEF (I've got one of their drive shafts on my other Jeep). They specialize in custom driveshafts ect. Great guys...and KJ supporters as well.

http://www.reeldriveline.com/

pixeldzn · **Posted:** Tue Mar 21, 2006 1:01 am

Speaking of all this stuff, where does one pick up a spare U-Joint to keep handy. Would JEReel be a good place to request one, or thru you, Al?

kickit_in4wheel · **Posted:** Tue Mar 21, 2006 3:00 am

Ok, first thing, mainly directed at Al: I severed the boot all the way around. Clean cut, it's gone. So new grease and silicone aren't gonna fix me up. I don't think it was exposed to any mud or grime, and with as dry as it has been in Central FL lately (less than 1/2 the rain we usually get, lots of brushfire warnings), it might not have been permanently damaged yet. Trouble is, to my knowledge, there isn't a quick repair boot for the axle. I'm gonna try and make one for another vehicle work until I get a new shaft, and just clean it real well and use tons of grease. As for this comment:

"If you can get ones at pepeboys or o'riellys they will most likely be cheaper than JE Reel. Their half shafts are real HD and haven't made a peep yet at my lift height (around 3.5 inches)."

Is the their you are referring to pepboys and O'Reilly, or just JE Reel? If I'm gonna spend the cash & time to replace it, I want the toughest thing I can put in. Anyone have a dana 44..?

Wes: I will contact Steve, though I haven't seen him around much so I think he is busy with some stuff and maybe I shouldn't bother him yet. Where did you get the CVs originally?

jg45: thanks for the input, how long did it take you to do the install?

If anyone else has anything to add, please do.

Rick

RedJeepCRD · **Posted:** Tue Mar 21, 2006 4:12 am

Don't worry about the CV replacement, I've done it several times :lol:

Just find a weekend were off and we'll change them. No big deal and I have everything at the house. (air tools, axle nut socket, etc.)

Call me on my cell, I'm work night so call me about 4 or 5 pm. I think you still have my nextel ID. I'll help you find some or you can see if Camper has the extras I sold him. Just shoot him an email, he won't mind. That will be your cheapest route. I bet I can find the one for under $150. I can also show you how to replace the boots, it's not that hard.

The originals from Jeep are about $850 a side so forget that route. As far as I know there is no Dana 44 CV shaft that will work on the Liberty. Your been bitten by the unsettled lift bug, Let the lift settle for a bit and see if that helps. I went though 3 lifts on my 2002 before I settled with Rustys and I still had CV problems but I believe they where from prior lifts. I'm worried that you may have a prelowered Liberty and your running a lift setup for lowered liberty which means your sitting higher than you should be. I noticed your CV angles at the ride but didn't want to make any comments about it until I saw how your lift settles. BUT don't worry we can fix this without spend to much money. If you want to keep you lift that high you may have to look at having a HD set made.

Wes

mb818 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 21, 2006 8:31 am

lowered or pre-lowered doesn't make a difference in this case because the springs are replaced with the frankenlift...

i think it'd be a good idea to figure out exactly why this frankenlift installation didn't settle... or why the CV angles were so extreme to start with (just check out his pics in the pics section)... replacing the CV axles isn't really a solution in my mind, as new ones won't last long with angles that out of whack... i'd also be concerned the way those ball joints look... it's cases like these that are holding me back from getting a frankenlift...

mb818

Jeepin Al · **Posted:** Tue Mar 21, 2006 10:51 am

The JE Reel's half shafts are HD, the other s are stock rebuilds.

jg45 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 21, 2006 11:52 am

The install took about a full day. That is because it was the first time and I was figuring it out as I went. I suspect the boots for a late model Dakota 4x4 would work, but haven't been able to verify. I think the shaft from O'Reilly's was about $100.

KJ04 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 21, 2006 12:37 pm

If you just need the boot, you can get a boot kit from the dealer with grease packet and clamp.

Jjay · **Posted:** Tue Mar 21, 2006 1:06 pm

sorry off the topic but Al Jeepin Al. Ive been looking for you and emailing about the upper arms. Im assuming you are the same Al that USAFCOP reffered to. I have no problems with my lift but wouldnt mind replacing the upper arms into better ones. Ow yeh...I live in Dubai UAE

Goodluck Rick

camper · **Posted:** Tue Mar 21, 2006 9:42 pm

hey rick and wes....

I have spare axles.....sending you guys a PM.....

jpzkj · **Posted:** Wed Mar 22, 2006 2:25 am

pixeldzn wrote:

Speaking of all this stuff, where does one pick up a spare U-Joint to keep handy. Would JEReel be a good place to request one, or thru you, Al?

Napa will work

My CV axle is ruined! picture posted

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