Ravenbolt

I am haveing an issue with 4wd that I assume is being cause by a default in the front axel. My car has 223,000 miles on it and from what i know the front axel has never been worked on. My problem is that when i turn 4wd on it sounds like there is a low grinding noise comeing from the front. When i turn the steering wheel the axel locks up. If i turn the steering wheel as tight as it goes the car in drive will just stop. I am hopeing that replaceing the whole front axel will fix this problem but im not sure where to shop for the axel i need.

blasterman93

Check out Autozone they are farely reasonabley priced. Only need to replace axles and not the whole housing and 3Rd member.

90xj,99xj,92mj

am i the only one who niticed the ''car" haha you need to read the xj manual man, and good luck!

91 limited owner

On the title they are listed as station wagon.

Ravenbolt

this is a bit beside the point. My main concern is why its doing what it's doing... but ill just replace the front axels and see if that works...

90xj,99xj,92mj

ya man good luck to ya. let us know how it goes tho! are you gonna go bigger?

CRoading

If there is a local junkyard near you then you might try your luck to find one...

Ravenbolt

I can't immagine one from U-pull it would be any better than the one that's in it. Probably has the same problem. I really only like u-pull it for interior and exterior non mechanical parts.

white91

If it is Locking up when you turn the wheel then it is most Likely U joints in the front. Good luck.

95THORxj

got my knuckle joints at napa. 26.oo with tax for heavy duty. took about 5hrs total. a good father son project on a rainy sunday.

Ravenbolt

is the u joint a newb friendly repair? and yes... locking up is exactly the problem. When i turn the steering wheel in 4wd steering gets very erratic and if i turn too sharply it tries to lock up.

Ravenbolt

I deffinetly think the u-joint is bad now, though i dont think it diagnoses all the problems with 4wd. The u-joint in the front can be rotated slightly left and right and everything i read said it shouldnt budge. The rear u-joint does not budge.

Ravenbolt

On a side note... the funny thing about the fact I am now planning to replace the u-joints is I was in the process of changing the tranny fluid... so my XJ has no tranny fluid in her right now which makes it a perfect time to change the u joints because I dont have to jack the rear end up. I fit under the car without it being on jack stands so all I do is chock the wheels and have at it XD

als98xj

Remember to check the U-joints at the front wheels. Those are the one's that'll pop and lock up when turning tight. Just my opinion good luck.

Ravenbolt

oh boy -.- i dont even know how to check those... gah... Haynes manual isnt as helpful on this job as it usually is...