They can be done without a press, but if your rust is like around here, it's pretty much impossible lol.

If you want to get used to working on your Jeep, rebuilding the front drive shaft is an excellent opportunity. You can take it out and drive it around just fine, and it's relatively difficult to screw up. A U joint service kit is a nice investment if there's no rental store nearby. A 4WD XJ has 7 U joints in it that you can replace. A decent kit will also include cups for doing the ball joints.

 

EZEARL said "Would be nice if you could get someone who KNOWS HOW TO DO IT to walk you through it". I am a Chef at a luxury hotel. I have no mechanical backround. Never learned a thing about working on vehicles growing up. My XJ is my 10th vehicle. I have owned it over 2 years now and with the help of this forum have installed front and rear bumpers, replaced steering box, Adjustable track bar, rotate tires every 5000 miles, Change oil every 3000 or so, Installed 3 inch zone lift w/ full leaf packs, Installed snorkel, Rewired doors and taillights, stripped and rhino lined interior, thermostat, oil pressure sending unit, Fuel lines, Power steering lines, Radiator hoses, Drag link, Installed KC Daylights, CB Radio, Made Removable doors, ETC.

I have no prior experience working on vehicles but with the help of this forum have been able to complete all of the formentioned jobs. You are the people who " Know how to do it to walk you through it". I appreciate it guy's and want to say thanks for all the help. Salad and cruiser54 especially. Wish you guys had shops around here! All that being said. I just ordered the U-joint press and will finish this job also with the help of this forum.

 

Alright, it's the u-joint next to the hub on the drivers side. Anyone have a link to a write up on the u joint?

 

http://www.stu-offroad.com/axle/ujoint1/u-joint-1.htm

 

Ok. Today before work I Jacked up the XJ and put it on stands. Removed front driver tire. Removed Caliper and placed on control arm. Removed Cotter pin from Hub ( without breaking it which was a suprise!!) Loosened the 3 bolts on the back of the hub ( They were really rusted on there). Tommorow I will buy 36mm Socket to remove hub and a u-joint. Should be pretty straight forward from there. I'll keep you posted. I have been taking pics so when I'm finished I can do a write up on this.

 

Right on!

Tip for breaking that hub nut loose: get a pry bar - 2' is good - and jam it right beside the U joint through the yoke. The handle will hit the ground and prevent the thing from turning while you use an impact or breaker bar to remove the nut.

 

You can change the axle ujoint without removing the hub. Just pull it all out as one piece (hub, yolk and axle shaft). Youll just have a little extra weight to deal with

 

Alright it's done!
Hub was a bear to get off the rust looked like a weld it was so thick. Tried everything twice until I stumbled upon the little trick of putting a bolt between the shaft and knuckle. Couple turns it came right off.
UJoint caps were rusted to hell and took a lot of convicing to come out. I did 2 with a BFH and two w/ a ball joint press.

Tools used for this job.
13mm 12pt wrench ( Brake Caliper and 3 Rear hub bolts)
36mm Socket for Axle nut $9 w/ a big hunk of pipe. $12
Needlenose Pliers
Ball Joint press $118
7/8 Deep socket(for joint press) $8
Bench Vise ( A Must). I had to go to a friends house to press the joints in.
Thats it nothing to crazy.
Spent $150 on tools that I will have forever and 20 on the ujoint.
Total Cost $170
Shop wanted. $260
If you read this thread and are going to attempt this I recommend stusoffroad as a great source of info.
Thanks Salad and everyone else for all your help.

 

Excellent!

 

Everyone on here is the only reason I can afford to own a cherokee!

I was really hoping this would turn into a *you know who* type thread with cursing, and deflation. Glad to see everything worked out.

 

Same! This forum is why I bought mine.

I haven't seen Bimmer in a while

 

Ha, you keep pressing your luck