blackmagic08

Hi, we have a 2000 Cherokee Sport. There has been a vibration so we took it to a shop. They said that both the u joints on the front drive shaft are frozen and need to be replaced, and that they need to take it out and to another shop to have that done (I assume this is because they don't have the press or whatever is needed to do it in-house.) They want $60 to R/R the driveshaft, and estimate around $200 at the drive shaft shop. I called the drive shaft shop this morning to check and they told me the joints should be $20-30 each, a small amount of labor to replace them, and around $60 for balancing (which I think is a good idea since this whole thing started with vibration.) What do you think about this? Does that all sound fair? I am pretty good at doing my own repairs, and am considering pulling the driveshaft myself. It is a simple matter of taking the 4 nuts off the caps on the joint to free that end of the shaft then sliding the slip yoke from the transfer case? Can I do it in the driveway with the vehicle on the wheels? (chocked, of course)

Thanks very much for the help.

DaddyCat

Not a fun job but it can be done in the driveway. PB Blaster is your friend here!

***wrong u-joints...see below***

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f51/ho...ana-30-a-3689/

gorilla_skater

Daddycat was referring to the u-joints in the axles.

If you're saying that you want to take out the front driveshaft yourself, and bring it to the driveline place then it's pretty easy.

The front driveshaft has 8 bolts. 4 on the yoke at the front axle (I think it's a 8mm socket) and 4 on the transfer case (not sure of the size).

DaddyCat

oooops, you're right, thank you gorilla_skater, I'm not fully awake.

OP, mark your drive shaft yolks with paint so you get them back on the same orientation they came off.

tommyxj2000

the four on the transfer case are the same size 8mm

wildspear

Something simple as a u-joint replacement...don't take it to the shop. Do it yourself and you'll be much happier. Rent the press, buy 3 u-joints, get a nice sunny Sat and have at it.

"ol' Blue" posted this on a simular thread;

This isn't a Cherokee, but will give you the basic idea.>>->

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vU9aR...om=PL&index=88" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vU9aR...om=PL&index=88

blackmagic08

Thanks for the help, fellas. I'm definitely going to do the job myself, I hate paying to have things done that I am perfectly capable of doing myself.

w1ck3p0n3

Is there any "best" brand of U-joint to get?

RichardJP

Don't get napa brand. They are made in china. You can go to O'reiley and get better made in america u joints for less than chinease napa Junk!!!!

I changed mine last saturday and had to go back and get anouther pair on sunday from O'rieleys. One u joint from napa had a roller fall over durring instalation. One napa chinease installed ok but makes noise. American U joints from Orieleys and wala went in perfect!!!

I like Napa but what with selling the red china comunist u joint krap.

wildspear

I got mine from here;

http://www.4xshaft.com/index.html

great customer service, give them a call and they'll make sure you get the right ones.

Wonka1981

New to the site so I dont know where the best place to post this is:

I have a 2000 xj that is making a rattling noise when I am in gear and stopped at a light. It seems that it gets to a specific rpm and just starts rattling. It sounds like it is coming from behind the dash somewhere. Any ideas on what this could be? Any help would be great, as the cherokee is new to me, trying to learn. I know Jeeps just make noise, but this rattling is pretty loud.

81Z4ME

Though I've not yet changed u-joints on my Cherokee Sport I've changed them on several GM vehicles.

I use a vise. Once I get the drive shaft out I pop out the clips and use a vise to push the U joint out of the drive shaft. I put a socket larger than the U joint cap and put it between the side of the u-joint and one jaw of the vise. I put a socket smaller that the u-joint cap between the other cap and the other jaw of the vise and then tighten up the vise. The small socket pushes the u-joint through the drive shaft and the opposite cap pops out into the big socket. Then I reverse the sockets and do it again to push the other cap back through the drive shaft. Once both caps are removed the center of the u-joint will come right out.

I use the same method for reinstalling the new u-joint into the drive shaft ends.

Works for me.

Balancing a drive shaft after installing a new set of U-joints????? Never have done it and never have had a problem. Hate to say why someone would recommend it for a u-joint replacement.