dnuccio

My front cv boots are cracked completely around. From what I've read, when the boots crack, they usually get dirt in the joint and it messes up the joint. Im not sure how bad mine are, but I dont want to take the chance of having one break while going down the road or turning. Should i replace the shafts with more CV style shafts, or swap to U joint style shafts?

Bustedback

I would swap over to the ujoint style shafts.

DieselD

What he said.

dnuccio

what are the benefits of the U joint shafts? im already decided on them but i need to convince my dad that this is the best route

DieselD

I'm assuming these are the CV joints on the older Cherokee right?

Well the only time I've read about em people said they are pretty weak for a CV joint. Harder to find at parts stores and just a PITA

With u joints, they're everywhere and are pretty strong. You can get the shafts from an ABS equipped D30 and they have bigger tabs for the joint.

dnuccio

95 grand cherokee

DieselD

Just use CV otherwise I think you're opening a can of worms... may be wrong.

pwb

replace the boots. Dismount the CV and clean the parts in soap water. Check for cracks. Fill with new grease and use new boots. Its easy and if you dont have broken any CV until now, why do you then need U joint?

Bustedback

You can buy the whole CV style shaft for about 60 bucks if you shop around, les headaches by doing the whole shaft verses just replacing the boots.

OnARoof

Put CV type shafts back in. Whether new or just replacing the boots is up to you, but with a 249 t-case on I'm guessing a DD you probably don't want to deal with the steering issues that u-joint style shafts would cause for you.
And I wouldn't really worry about strength, unless you've got a locker, 33's and wheel the **** out of it with the wheels at full lock you're not likely to snap one.

dnuccio

right now it is not a DD, it wont be until april when i get my license. in the meantime im planning on a 242 swap. what kind of steering issues are there with the u joint shafts?

tiwvr1

I belive the u joints tend to bind more then cv joints. I personally think cv joints are better to a point. I see alot more xj with bad u joints then zj's with bad cv joints.

Bustedback

Ujoints will bind when turning if you have the 249 transfercase, but will be ok with the 242 or 231 transfercases.

Willys55

a bad u joint will bind reguardless of what transfer case you have, it's been my experience that if you wheel, you should have the u joints, but for DD and the rest....cv's are just fine.

cv....constant velocity joints are as far as I'm concerned the better choice. They maintain a constant torque/thrust under load while turning and require very little maintenance.

1ATony

I just replaced the passenger side axle. I had the U-Joint axle in there and replaced it with the CV style.

I wasted about an hour trying to press out the darn U-joints because the PO never greased them and they were fused to the cap(s).

I ended up just tossing the CV axles back in. We carry them here if you need them.