When I grab ahold of either of the universal joints on my front wheels, they move pretty vigorously in pretty much every dimension. I'm no expert, but it seems to me like this probably means I need new u-joints. Not a huge problem [although with my 20-year-old rust belt XJ, every time you take something off, you risk having to replace it and everything that attaches to it], but I'm concerned that the axle shafts move in their housing pretty substantially, as well.

Should they? Should they be free to wobble about in there? Or when I take off the u-joints, should I also pull the axle shafts? Do I have to replace the shafts themselves, or just the seals and slingers and stuff that locate it laterally within the housing?

 

Outboard support for the axle shafts is provided by the unit bearing. So if the u-joints are shot that is why your seeing alot of movement on the shaft.
If your going to replace the joints you might as well save yourself some time and do the axle shaft seals as well. There are write up's on both neither is very difficult at all.

 

You haven't seen my XJ. Seriously, there was, like, a sale on rust the day they built mine. The previous owner didn't live near a salt mine, he lived in a salt mine. I've never seen anything like it.

But I checked out some write ups, and - my rust notwithstanding - you're right, it doesn't look too tough. It'll give me something fun to do.

 

Guh. Okay, so, I'm checking out the Quadratec parts list for the XJ front axle, and I'm not sure what I need. Universals, obviously, but what else?