U-joints

LetFreedomRing · **Joined:** Mon Jun 28, 2010 8:51 am **Posts:** 268

Tried searching the forums, but with this search engine I think I'd get more satisfaction by chewing on my leg.... :banghead:

I'm in the process of getting a set of U-joints replaced on my drive shaft and was wondering what the opinion is on a couple different brands.

So far I am looking at:

Spicer (Don't know the part #'s I need)
Precision (Supposed to be decent along with relatively cheap price. Rock auto has them listed confusingly..

)
I would have ordered the Precision joints already, but they have them listed for 4 inch yokes and 3 1/2 inch yokes? Which one do I need? :ALONE:

Any other suggestions out there? I really don't want to get advance auto part ones....

bugnout · **Posted:** Fri Apr 15, 2011 10:09 am

There are two sizes. I have the smaller ones in my DS. When I did mine, I got the wrong size and had to go back to the parts store. Can't tell you which is better, I'm on my third set, two sets failed at about 35k each.
Went with Autozone for this set because they had them on the shelf and have a lifetime guarantee. I'm sure I'll be needing a fourth set eventually.

LetFreedomRing · **Joined:** Mon Jun 28, 2010 8:51 am **Posts:** 268

Hmm... that's a bummer.

I really don't want to order and ship the wrong part.....

Anybody have any experience with the Brute Force joints at advance? I think they are made by Neapco.

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Apr 15, 2011 12:08 pm

I always get the greaseable ones at NAPA
replaced stockers at 55,000, replaced the NAPA ones at 153,000, now which is better
plus NAPAs are like 12-14 each or something like that

LetFreedomRing · **Joined:** Mon Jun 28, 2010 8:51 am **Posts:** 268

Are they just Napa brand? Or are they sold under a different name?

Is this similar to what you get?
https://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/CatalogItemDetail.aspx?R=NPJP331_0209476782

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Fri Apr 15, 2011 10:00 pm

Spicer is the only u-joint to run.

The debate between greasable and sealed u-joints...............

Sealed.........

--Stronger then greaseable
--no maintenance needed
--Life span of 50k-150k

Greaseable...........
--weaker then sealed due to grease passages in X
--actually need to grease them often
--can last 2-3 times longer then sealed joints if greased on a regular basis(every oil change)

LetFreedomRing · **Joined:** Mon Jun 28, 2010 8:51 am **Posts:** 268

tjkj2002 wrote:

Spicer is the only u-joint to run.

The debate between greasable and sealed u-joints...............

Sealed.........

--Stronger then greaseable
--no maintenance needed
--Life span of 50k-150k

Greaseable...........
--weaker then sealed due to grease passages in X
--actually need to grease them often
--can last 2-3 times longer then sealed joints if greased on a regular basis(every oil change)

Do you happen to know the part #'s for the spicer joints I need? Every place I look doesn't have them listed per application, just part #'s.

LibertyCRD · **Posted:** Sun Apr 17, 2011 2:26 pm

SOOOO many KJs (including both of mine) have lost the rear U-joint between 50,000-75,000 miles. To me, that's pretty ridiculous. There was no way I was going to put OEM junk back into mine. I went with Precision greasables and I shoot 'em full of grease a few times a year. Should get twice the logevity out of these... and...they cost less.

blackwidowkj06 · **Posted:** Sun Apr 17, 2011 2:36 pm

I lost my OEM rear u-joint somewhere in the 40,000 range (that was due to neglection on my part :oops:

)
they make a horrible sound when they're on the way out!

It now has a greasable rear u-joint and I have the dealership grease it everytime I have my oil changed. Not sure of the brand though.

Hope it all works out for you in the end
:JEEPIN:

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Sun Apr 17, 2011 8:46 pm

you can neglect the OEM's all you want - they're not servicable.
your choice is either to drive - or not to drive.

LetFreedomRing · **Joined:** Mon Jun 28, 2010 8:51 am **Posts:** 268

LibertyCRD wrote:

SOOOO many KJs (including both of mine) have lost the rear U-joint between 50,000-75,000 miles. To me, that's pretty ridiculous. There was no way I was going to put OEM junk back into mine. I went with Precision greasables and I shoot 'em full of grease a few times a year. Should get twice the logevity out of these... and...they cost less.

Did you happen to get the super strength ones? Or just the regular ones?

LibertyCRD · **Posted:** Mon Apr 18, 2011 7:52 am

LetFreedomRing wrote:

LibertyCRD wrote:

SOOOO many KJs (including both of mine) have lost the rear U-joint between 50,000-75,000 miles. To me, that's pretty ridiculous. There was no way I was going to put OEM junk back into mine. I went with Precision greasables and I shoot 'em full of grease a few times a year. Should get twice the logevity out of these... and...they cost less.

Did you happen to get the super strength ones? Or just the regular ones?

I don't remember. But I got them from O'reilly auto parts and they said they were the strongest ones they had. They probably were "Super Strength" come to think of it. Even with my lift, towing trailers, twisting it up offroad, etc... I checked them not long ago and they were still as smooth as silk when I moved them by hand. I think they were about $5 less per joint than the OEM junk too.

I went ahead and did both U-joints in the rear driveshaft while I had it out.

LetFreedomRing · **Joined:** Mon Jun 28, 2010 8:51 am **Posts:** 268

Just curious since you hate the oem's so much. What brand are they? Or are they just generic mopar brand?

LibertyCRD · **Posted:** Mon Apr 18, 2011 3:13 pm

LetFreedomRing wrote:

Just curious since you hate the oem's so much. What brand are they? Or are they just generic mopar brand?

I guess they are Spicer.

All I know is it's awful fishy that the majority of KJs on the road have rear U-joint failures right around the time the warranty expires. This is one time when I would not recommend going back with OEM parts.

LetFreedomRing · **Joined:** Mon Jun 28, 2010 8:51 am **Posts:** 268

LibertyCRD wrote:

LetFreedomRing wrote:

Just curious since you hate the oem's so much. What brand are they? Or are they just generic mopar brand?

I guess they are Spicer.

All I know is it's awful fishy that the majority of KJs on the road have rear U-joint failures right around the time the warranty expires. This is one time when I would not recommend going back with OEM parts.

Roger that. Thanks for the info.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 18, 2011 8:34 pm

LibertyCRD wrote:

LetFreedomRing wrote:

Just curious since you hate the oem's so much. What brand are they? Or are they just generic mopar brand?

I guess they are Spicer.

All I know is it's awful fishy that the majority of KJs on the road have rear U-joint failures right around the time the warranty expires. This is one time when I would not recommend going back with OEM parts.

I never had a u-joint failure on my KJ(a CV failure is a different story),they lasted 68,000 miles and 51,000miles was lifted and I was by no means nice to the driveline.Still have my OE rear driveshaft and the u-joints are in great shape still.

Stay out of the mud and water and the OE sealed u-joints will last a long time.

Pote · **Posted:** Thu Apr 21, 2011 10:15 pm

I have 143,000 miles on my KJ. Just got lifted at 138K miles. My original U joints are still going strong (just had them checked out by my shop) and considering they just had their angle changed after being the same for 138K miles, I'd say that's pretty good...although I shouldnt be saying anything, they are probably going to fall off tomorrow because of this post and my dumb luck. LOL

bunkermonkeycw · **Posted:** Thu Apr 21, 2011 11:16 pm

yea... I eat them... but I drive a good 30k a year.

What does this sound like?

light tweet wobble sound while on the gas at lower speeds, shaking at 40 to 50

TERRIBLE squeak\squeal with the wheel turned one way moving in reverse.

bunkermonkeycw · **Posted:** Sat Apr 23, 2011 1:22 pm

Ujoints are my issue. Any thoughts as to doing this in my driveway as a noob? Tool purchases are fine.

ridenby · **Posted:** Sat Apr 23, 2011 2:33 pm

Not a tough job,basic hand tools are all that is needed.

U-joints

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