cmndrJOE

Sorry if this is posted in the forum somewhere else, I did a search and didn't come up with anything.

I've a 96 zj limited, 5.2l quadra-track, bone stock. The cv joint exploded a while back, so I removed the front drive shaft and have been riding around in rwd since then. From what I've read and researched on Google, you can covert from cv to u joints... Can anyone explain to me what i meed to do to make that happen (or if this has been posted before, point me in the right direction)? Thanks in advance.

tiwvr1

Dont know y you would want to convert to u joints, I see them fail much more the the cv joints. Plus running round with your front drive shaft off isnt to good for the transfer case. You can get a reman axle for 39.99 around here.

ol"blue

Don't drive too long with the front shaft removed, because besides causing damage to the t-case, it also will leave your truck free to roll while in park.
You can replace the CV (type 1) shaft with either a type 2 or 3 u-joint equipped shaft from a '95-'98 ZJ. They came with all 3 types. I used a type 1 when doing this on my '97 because it had a grease fitting on the slip collar. You need to remove the CV retaining flange on the pinion at the front axle and install the y-joint yoke and nut and tighten to spec. The joint at the t-case should interchange.
This will show the different shafts.

1skrewsloose

I went to u-joints on a chevvy with lockouts years back with no problems. With the front axle always tied to the front drive shaft, I'd say stick with cv. Just getting started on jeeps, but would never have run u-joints on a full time chev 4x4 setup. jmho.

FAlfani81

U joints are so much stronger then cv joints! A set from a cherokee will swap right over. I've blown up cv joints left and right. Bearings shot right through the boot! Swapped over to u joints I got out of an 89 Cherokee, not a single problem since! In fact, the guy that wanted to swap with me... Blew the cv's up already! Cv was only invented to be quiet and smooth, nothing about them mean durability.

cmndrJOE

I was under the impression that u joints were stronger than cv joints? So pretty much if I do this swap with jy parts, I need to take the drive shaft and everything connected to it at the front axle?

ol"blue

Correct. Remove the large nut holding the yoke (the part that the u-joint attaches to) onto the front axle's pinion shaft, and attach that to your axle's pinion shaft, after removing the CV retaining flange. Remember to keep the nut with the yoke, you'll need it.

cmndrJOE

Sounds easy enough, next weekend if I get time to hit the jy ill be on the prowl for a new front drive shaft. I'll let everyone know how it goes. This is kind of new to me, so hopefully I don't screw anything up lol.

LongArmXJ

u joints are serviceable. wise choice. stock cv's blow.

JeepingDan

Sounds like you have a AWD Grand Cherokee correct?
If you install U joint shafts if maybe a little tough to make sharp turns on pavement.

cmndrJOE

Lol, I agree. Cv joints suck hard, esp when they blow up while doing 45 mph... Never again lol.

That's ok, my reverse works. I don't make many sharp turns, and I don't mind three pointing in an intersection if need be. Plus, its a jeep, ill take the curb lol.

1skrewsloose

I thought cv were used to maintain constant driveshaft speed from the transfer case. Why would a single u-joint be stronger, unless you went to beefier unit, than a cv? I thought a cv was just two u-joints in close proximity to each other. After all, cv stands for constant velocity, does it not? Feel free to correct me as I am new to jeeps. Thanks in advance. My bad, I always referred to a double cardan joint as a constant velocity joint which it is. Sorry.

JeepingDan

A CV joint is basically 4 or 5 ball bearing held together by a cage and sealed with a boot full of grease.

E-Rok

With or without AWD, i see no benefit of running a cv (repezza) front drive shaft, its garbage and expensive as hell to replace. Axle shafts..... Depends on how much AWD driving you do

cmndrJOE

Ok, thinking about heading to the jy this weekend, these are the parts I'm looking for to do the conversion, correct?

http://www.quadratec.com/products/52237_05X0_PG.htm