ken72

I posted a while back that I had a wierd grinding problem up front and thought it might be brakes. So I went to work on the brakes and changed the rotors and pads this morning and seems I still have the issue. Now I am thinking its my front drive shaft dry. Anyone every switched on of these out on here? how hard was it? Think I might try in a few weeks. Whats the part that the drive shaft is connected to. I would like to just change that out instead of the whole shaft. Cost is much less i am guessing. Any thougts on this. Again its grinding noise that goes with the movement of the Jeep. Faster it speeds up slower it slows down.

caged

it could be your center ball in the double cardan joint.
if you can change u-joints, you can do this.
i've had to do it to my tj last summer. it's quite easy.

ken72

Thats a little greek to me, but if I do enough searching I'm sure I can find out what your talking about.

MasterShakeXJ

i used this write up

http://www.stu-offroad.com/axle/driv...iveshaft-5.htm

ken72

Thanks guys for your help. Now I just gotta go find the part. I hope it wont be too much.

ken72

so could the sound be comming from the u-joint or from the propeller tha spins the drive shaft. I may have to break down and take it to a mechanic... but I hate to do that, but I also have spending money on one thing after the other trying to find the problem. I changed out brakes and rotors yesturday myself just to find out that was not the issue. Now I believe it could be this but maybe its not.

caged

you can remove the front driveshaft and drive it without it.
if the sound disappears, it was most likely something in the driveshaft.
centering ball is common, sounds like a bunch of angry sparrows.
i've had just the u-joints go and centering ball was ok, no sparrows, but sounds like a can of nuts and bolts.

junk yard front driveshaft is about 50 bux.

ken72

ok, i guess i need to take it off but it will have to wait until next weekend though. I will just have to drive it until then. Good thing is, i dont drive it but about 20 to 30 miles a day and no highway driving so it should hold up another week. Guess I should start using the parking brake incase it does give out. Never heard a bunch of angry sparrows before so i cant relate the sound to that...and it does not sound like a can of nuts and bolts. Just this constant grinding noise like dry bearings. My wheel bearings are fine it think. I put it up on a jack and spun the wheel and could not hear the noise so its kind of hard to pinpoint it.