fancyjeep

Finally got around to installing the Durango steering box after having it for...well...too long

investinwaffles

Pulled the diff cover and tried to narrow down the source of my clicking/groaning when hot and turning at slow speeds. Not the brakes or parking brakes, not the axle bearings (though one of my new seals is seeping a bit, another project).
I even pulled both driveshafts and pushed it in the driveway with the wheels turned, should have taken a vid of the noise before I pulled the cover

Lots of up/down play with one of the spider gears, but I have no idea if a new spider gear set will fix this or not? They look original, and my gear installer was supposed to do a "full" rebuild when he installed my gears. Apparently not...
I think I am going to order them and hope for the best. Throwing parts at a problem usually never works, if not I am just going to take it to a gear/axle shop. Hopefully it's not going to blow up on me before I change them next weekend.


I made a video, came out pretty decent.
What do you all think??


Skip to 3 minutes 20 seconds to see the play in the spider gears. I mostly took the video for myself so I could pause and zoom in

SatiricalHen

My rear end has been howling for 3 years and the front end has been crunchy for probably 6 months. Unless it's some ungodly harsh noise you're probably good.

Bugout4x4

Put a new set of thrust washers under those spider gears. That play in the top one looks like it might not even have one under it?

Joecam18

We have all been here man! Maybe not the same problem but definitely that "ah **** how am I gonna fix this/get this fixed" moment. We believe in you and we are here to help!

Remo73

For sure. My ball joints were OEM (230K miles) and it looked like they were pressed in to withstand the apocalypse. When I did them this past spring, I broke 3 ratchets and a breaker bar just trying to get them out. I had to buy a 3 foot section of gas pipe and use it as a cheater bar. By the time I was able to get the proper leverage...when they finally let go it sounded like a shotgun blast and felt like an IED exploded next to me. My XJ was immobile in my driveway for a week until I got 'em in.

I'm a little guy at 5"6" and 140lbs. If I can get them out, then I would wager that you can too. You can do this!

SatiricalHen

Although the axle shafts may be toast since you bent the ears you can easily get a new set of axle shafts from the junkyard for fairly cheap. The ball joints put a good bit of pressure on them then hit the socket the ball joint is pressed into with a hammer. It kind of shocks it or knocks it out of round for a second and will help get them out. Penetrating oil and heat can also help some. Worst case scenario you could go pull a whole front axle for a junkyard jeep and swap it in.

Basslicks

No offense man, but I do believe you did something wrong. Did you forget to remove the retainer clip for the cap? I've used a 12 ton press on my last few u-joint jobs and was using a ball-joint press before that... never once bent an axle ear.

XJwonders

I believe him. I have bent the ears on the axleshafts when the bearings caps are rusted to the ears.

I just bend them back with a vise to straighten them up.

NewKindOfClown

Welcome to the Rust Belt.
Seen it. Done it. Replaced the shafts.

Like someone said about ball joints, put a decent amount of pressure on it and tap the side with a hammer until it releases

dfritchie

The clips were removed, only have a 4 ton press - would do some real damage with a 12 ton I bet!. The ball joints are killing me, even use a hydraulic press on them and smacked the arm with a 5 pound sledge. Used up 2 cans of penetrating oil so far, ran out of gas for the torch. An axle swap may be the only answer.
And I haven't even pulled the wheel off the drivers side yet.......

Ryno 82

Got my aux fan working.

Canadiantech

finished priming the rear half of the jeep that the PO started!

Morat

I lent it to my wife.... she prefers the handling on the Jeep over the Range Rover.
So now, I need to fix the loose steering on the Range Rover before I can get my Jeep back!
(I'm not totally whipped, she is driving our son around)

jessenator

I've always wondered, aside from the "that'll do" BL construction of the classic Range Rover (that I hear about through things like Top Gear), were they great off-roaders?
How's the parts availability for RHD Jeeps over there?


I haven't done much beyond driving mine recently. Oh, did pick up one of these for only $10 last week


Gave the pre-'97-tan colored spare cover to my buddy for his daughter's XJ. Black will at least blend better in my interior. Now to find a matching wheel for the spare…