cob

I have a 1991 Laredo that makes scraping noises from the front end while turning sharply in either direction. I've read on the forum that the most likely culprit is the u-joint, but when I examined both the driver and passenger side front axles they don't appear the same. On the drivers side, between the steering knuckle and the u-joint there is a plastic part showing that I can turn by hand. This plastic part doesn't appear on the passenger side.

It looks like something has come loose and this plastic part has worked its way out of the steering knuckle. I think that the sound I'm hearing while turning is this plastic part scraping against the knuckle housing.

I attached a couple of pictures showing the driver's side knuckle and the plastic part as viewed from behind the front tire.

Does any one know what this part is and whether its current location is normal?

I'd rather not tear into a repair without some understanding of what is wrong and why. Any help would be appreciated.

By the way, how do you check whether the front u-joints are excessively worn?

91familyxj

My plastic part moves also. It just snaps in place. As far as the u joint you have to see if you can move it or wiggle it then its getting worn out. Do you have anything loose underneath your frontend?

cob

Thanks for the reply. Is the plastic part supposed to stick-out?
Should I just push it back into the knuckle?

cob

I haven't gone so far as to check for any other loose parts. It just seemed very strange, from a quick inspection, to find this plastic part on the axle that I can move by hand and yet the other side doesn't show this part.

Is it some sort of seal?

Turbo X_J

See all that "rust" around the u-joint? That used to be the needle bearings.

To verify this, jack up and support the front end. Then turn the steering wheel to full lock (left seems to be best for the drivers side). Rotate the tire by hand and observe the u-joint axle shaft movement. If the u-joint wobbles at all it's toast. The plastic piece your refering to is a dust cover and apparently serves no real purpose.

cob

Thanks! I'll try that.

freegdr

replace th u joints they turn all the time

cob

Thank you for the advice.

Turbo X J you were right. When I rotated the wheel, with the steering hard to the left, the wheel rotation would hit a "hard" spot and the uj would make clicking, popping, and scraping noises. It even created a "rust" cloud, although it didn't appear to wobble very much.

I'll use the "how to change ujs" technical write-up to replace the uj.

Thanks again for your help!

Turbo X_J

Glad to help, welcome to the site.