Rear PropShaft/U-Joints Question

[LibertyTC]

How many miles do the U joints last normally, or at how many miles did u have to change yours?
Or as preventative maintenance when should I do mine?
So far so good all seems tight & no clunks going on...
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One sticker is about to fly off LOL = X
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The other sticker is glued on and made here!
If I pull this drive shaft what is recommended to blast & paint it?
Or should I get a driveline shop to do the u-joints and paint/ re-balance?
Sure is rusted :icon_lol:

 

[tjkj2002]

The OE spicer sealed u-joints usually last 100k+(seen as high as 300k on OE u-joints by spicer).Replace when bad or when ever you so choose.Make sure you use a quality u-joint,greaseable is not always better.

 

[HoosierJeeper]

The U joint on the diff end of the rear driveshaft bit the dust on mine, 124k miles. Replaced it with a Precision/Moog non-greasable heavy duty one. Went with non greaseable because 1. I can't complain about getting 10 years/124k out of the OE one and 2. I was afraid I wouldn't grease a greaseable one properly and in that case it would die sooner.

For painting it, I wouldn't bother. Could throw the balance off and it'll rust again, even new vehicles sitting on the lot have rusted driveshafts.

 

[tommudd]

My OE ones went at 55,000 miles, rusted to dust

 

[LibertyTC]

^ ya that is what I am afraid of ..rusted fell off..LOL..
So what in replacement should I use is Moog sealed the best or Spicer..opinions please!
I wonder how much a drive line shop will charge to do this job here...hmmm..
Wouldn't mind having it checked for balance too.

 

[CactusJacked]

I just replaced mine, had everything apart to replace the clutch anyway (134k miles). A couple of the bearing surfaces had some chatter marks, which translates to vibrations. That's something you can't really feel with the shaft in place, unless it's so bad that it's literally flopping. I used Dana greasable joints from rockauto. For me, there's no reason not to use a greasable joint. I did mark the front yokes with a punch so that they would remain in phase as they were. The driveshaft was all rusty and crusty, so I tapped off the chunks with a hammer, removed the rest with my wire wheel, and painted it up with POR15. An even coat of paint isn't going to throw it off balance, uneven rust growths could.

 

[tjkj2002]

^ ya that is what I am afraid of ..rusted fell off..LOL..
So what in replacement should I use is Moog sealed the best or Spicer..opinions please!
I wonder how much a drive line shop will charge to do this job here...hmmm..
Wouldn't mind having it checked for balance too.

Spicer gold seal u-joints are top of the line.

 

[CactusJacked]

I was afraid I wouldn't grease a greaseable one properly and in that case it would die sooner.

That would be like saying a sealed jar of water with a one-way valve for adding more water would dry out faster than one without a valve. Not gonna happen. I always prefer to have the option to add more grease as part of regular maintenance. The Dana (Spicer) greasable joints I just put on came pre-greased just like a non greasable one (although I would have added more if not greasable). Once all together, each joint took almost 3 pumps of the grease gun till you could hear them burping out air.

 

[Luke]

Spicers are the ones ... easy job... and good quality time with the KJ :waytogo:

 

[LibertyTC]

Are the gold seal Spicer from Tom Woods only?
How do I know what part numbers I need do I have to measure cap ends or ??
Where is the part # look up..04 KJ..4x4 etc..

 

[tjkj2002]

Are the gold seal Spicer from Tom Woods only?
How do I know what part numbers I need do I have to measure cap ends or ??
Where is the part # look up..04 KJ..4x4 etc..

Just a name...................




Spicer lists both the 5-153x or 5-213x as KJ u-joints.

The 5-153x is a 1310 u-joint and the 5-213x is a 1330 u-joint.

1310 u-joint is 3.219" width and 1.062" cap width,the 1330 u-joint is 3.625" width and a 1.062" cap.

 

[LibertyTC]

Just got off the phone with a local drive line shop. For $140 he will do the 9 yards install the new u joints, wire wheel the shaft, paint it and even balance it for me!
Sounds good to me !!
I am thinking some zerk fitted u-joints are better after reading this article..page 97
Link: Jeep 4X4 Performance Handbook - Jim Allen - Google Books

 

[tjkj2002]

Sealed versus greaseable can go either way.


Sealed is much stronger and good ones will last just as long as greaseable joints.