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XJ Ask the Question Thread
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 52
Likes: 1
From: Navajo Nation
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Axles, Ball Joints, and Anger Management
I live in the middle of nowhere. I was changing front brake pads on our 98 Xj 4x4 and busted a caliper bolt off in the steering knuckle. I screwed up drilling it out, which started this awful welding-drilling-more-drilling-cursing-saga that finally culminated in having to surrender and get a new knuckle, which I rode my motorcycle 200 miles to get. I finally got the old knuckle off after breaking my 3lb mallet. But, in my anger and frustration with getting the knuckle off, I got even more stupid and, for some reason, thought it might be a good idea to whack on the end of the axle as hard as I could a bunch of times (prior to breaking the mallet all together.) Its probably a good thing that there wasn't any dynamite around. At any rate, now that I got the knuckle off and have had some time to chill out, what I am wondering is: how do I check that axle u-joint with the wheel and everything off? How likely is it that I may have damaged it? How do I check the ball-joints now that I have the knuckle off and, I just learned, may have access to a press to pull them? I am trying to take my family on a much needed vacation this week and this is our only car. Today, Sunday, is the only day I have to fix it and the closest auto part store is an hour away. If I need to go there, I can't forget anything that I might need. Any and all assistance would be greatly appreciated - even more so if it is immediate. Thanx.
CF Veteran
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,021
Likes: 0
From: Rochester
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Originally Posted by NewKindOfClown
Bolt mirrors to fenders or A-pillar, half doors, get one that you can attach with a bolt through the hinge, or whatever creative answer you can come up with. You could probably find one to clamp on the A-pillar. Most states that I've looked at only require an interior rearview and a driver-side exterior.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 634
Likes: 0
From: Cuyahoga Falls
Year: 1994
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0l
Originally Posted by paulutions
I live in the middle of nowhere. I was changing front brake pads on our 98 Xj 4x4 and busted a caliper bolt off in the steering knuckle. I screwed up drilling it out, which started this awful welding-drilling-more-drilling-cursing-saga that finally culminated in having to surrender and get a new knuckle, which I rode my motorcycle 200 miles to get. I finally got the old knuckle off after breaking my 3lb mallet. But, in my anger and frustration with getting the knuckle off, I got even more stupid and, for some reason, thought it might be a good idea to whack on the end of the axle as hard as I could a bunch of times (prior to breaking the mallet all together.) Its probably a good thing that there wasn't any dynamite around. At any rate, now that I got the knuckle off and have had some time to chill out, what I am wondering is: how do I check that axle u-joint with the wheel and everything off? How likely is it that I may have damaged it? How do I check the ball-joints now that I have the knuckle off and, I just learned, may have access to a press to pull them? I am trying to take my family on a much needed vacation this week and this is our only car. Today, Sunday, is the only day I have to fix it and the closest auto part store is an hour away. If I need to go there, I can't forget anything that I might need. Any and all assistance would be greatly appreciated - even more so if it is immediate. Thanx.
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 52
Likes: 1
From: Navajo Nation
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Turn the outer part of able shafts and watch the u joint where they insert into the u joints cups. Should be no play between the u joint and cups. There should be no tightness when moving the ujoint around in circles. Save thing with ball joints. Move then around if those are lose moving or can be jiggled around no good
CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 15,581
Likes: 8
From: some small town oregon
Year: 1989
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Originally Posted by sycoglitch
Thanks and I should of also asked its 2qts needed?
CF Veteran
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,135
Likes: 1
From: Santa Rosa, California
Year: 1987 Comanche,1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L Renix
What t-case is the has the best performance overall? The 242 or 231? I know the 231 has a lot of aftermarket support, but which one would you use?
CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,401
Likes: 0
From: Montpelier, Ohio
Year: 92
Engine: 4.0
Originally Posted by NorCalJeep
What t-case is the has the best performance overall? The 242 or 231? I know the 231 has a lot of aftermarket support, but which one would you use?
CF Veteran
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,135
Likes: 1
From: Santa Rosa, California
Year: 1987 Comanche,1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L Renix
CF Veteran
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 12,692
Likes: 6
From: Mercer County, NJ
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L I6 HO
Originally Posted by NorCalJeep
What t-case is the has the best performance overall? The 242 or 231? I know the 231 has a lot of aftermarket support, but which one would you use?
CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,401
Likes: 0
From: Montpelier, Ohio
Year: 92
Engine: 4.0
Originally Posted by NorCalJeep
Want to start a project soon, and get it done right. Thanks for the input.