U-joints, ball joints, wheel bearings, Oh My!
#1
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Location: Schuylerville
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Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
U-joints, ball joints, wheel bearings, Oh My!
I'm a proud new owner of my first 2001 Cherokee Sport. It lived a tame life and is in great shape but, it's making a hitching, grinding noise only when I turn left. It sounds like it's coming from the front drivers side wheel. I tried moving the steering components and track bar and they didn't. I tried rocking the wheel and didn't find any play. I'm thinking U-joint or bearing. Any thoughts from the pro's?
Thanks
Thanks
#4
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Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Thanks for the welcome and your response. I'll try what lawsoncl suggested tomorrow. U-joint will be a little more difficult, I don't have a press, but I may be able to have the NAPA machine shop press them for me.
Thanks again for your help!
Thanks again for your help!
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#8
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Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
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We're enjoying a little VA heat here in upstate NY ourselves. Sounds like an "easy" job if you have the right tools, an air conditioned garage and a cool liquid reward for a job well done! Thank you all for your advice, I've already learned a lot since I found this forum and I'm looking forward to learning more about my XJ.
#9
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UJs are surprisingly easy with a ball joint press. Just remember to remove the grease zerk (if fitted) before trying to press the UJ out or there will be a nasty crunching noise and suddenly you'll be getting bits of UJ out instead of the whole thing in one go.
Or so I hear
Or so I hear
#10
CF Veteran
Start soaking the caps in PB. Half the time I bent the ears while blowing them out with a 20 ton press and had to bend them back with a home-made gimmick. Somebody here made a jig to prevent that, forgot who but will try to search.
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jpz (07-11-2019)
#12
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lawsoncl using channel stock. Mayhaps he will stop by and post an image on how he does that.
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Year: 1989
Model: Comanche (MJ)
Engine: 4.0
I'll have to make a drawing and take a picture next time. :}
#15
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I don't have an image handy and heading out the door in a few, so a quick description. I have a piece of u-channel that I set on the bottom to support the sides the joint. Then a big socket on the top of everything. Pressing or hammering on the socket forces the upper ujoint cap upwards into the socket. There are no bending forces applied to the ears, which if they do flex only make it harder to move the caps. Also because you're only moving one cap at a time it takes less force. Most people like to put the socket underneath and press on the top of the ujoint which takes more force to move both caps and can easily bend the ears of the shaft inward.
I'll have to make a drawing and take a picture next time. :}
I'll have to make a drawing and take a picture next time. :}
See YT. Couple more U-joint pointers.