Another Scrambler Purchase/Road Trip - UPDATE- BODY ON FRAME AGAIN

[spankrjs]

Removed the other axle shaft u-joint this afternoon, all four caps were dried out.







So, I reckon it was a good idea to take a look at all of this stuff. Much easier to address this in the garage as opposed to the trail. Still can't fathom why both of these u-joints were dried out? Both axle shafts yokes had grease on them, I presume from seaping out of the u-joint caps. So the seals went. Maybe I damaged the seals when I installed this set of u-joints. The shafts are old Warn chrome moly deals that take Dana 44 sized u-joints, 5-760's. I have never installed u-joints in an actual Dana 44 shaft, but have done plenty of Dana 30's. The 30's aren't terrible. These shafts are a PIA due to the fact that they are small enough to slip through the knuckle hole yet take a much bigger u-joint, so the tolerances are tight tight tight.

Went ahead and cleaned up the rest of the parts.



Will piddle around with reassembly at night after work this week, taking extra special care in regards to the u-joints!!!

That's it for now.

 

[spankrjs]

A little bit of work tonight.

Packed the wheel bearings and spindle bearings, zip lock bags to keep dirt out.





Installed the new rotors on to the wheel hubs.



And the big accomplishment, well, at least for me



New Spicer u-joints installed, no problems. I think I always dread installing new front axle shaft u-joints because removing the old ones is usually such a b@#ch.

That's it for now.

 

[Bad Karma]

You really should learn to maintain your Jeep. You have clearly neglected it. There is a really good thread on here by @spankrjs, he maintains his stuff, you could learn from that guy.

 

[Belizeit]

That’s right !

 

[spankrjs]

Remembered to grease the ball joints. Only way to grease the upper ball joint is with the axle shaft removed.



I keep these plugs in the zerk holes when the Jeep is being driven. The OD of the front axle shaft/u-joint assembly is too large to keep the upper zerk fitting in place.



I only leaves the grease fittings in place while I'm servicing the ball joints.





I can't remember if the factory ball joints are greaseable? These are some type of NAPA replacement ball joints I installed over 104k miles ago. They are still good to go, and this is only the second time since the original installation that I have greased them. The grease that came out from 40k miles ago still looked fine.

The FSM recommends inspecting/repacking the front wheel bearings at 25k mile intervals. Judging by my front axle u-joints, 40k is too long. Maybe I'll pull this stuff back apart after 30k more miles? Besides u-joints and time this has only cost me grease and two hub seals, cheap insurance. Inspection and maintenance would need to be performed more frequently with more frequent deep water or mud usage.

 

[timo439]

So, inquiring minds want to know. What is your method to recall your maintenance items? Do you keep a log of when things were done, when they need to be done again? What is your method? I am terrible and tracking oil changes much less lubing ball joints.

 

[Bad Karma]

So, inquiring minds want to know. What is your method to recall your maintenance items? Do you keep a log of when things were done, when they need to be done again? What is your method? I am terrible and tracking oil changes much less lubing ball joints.

he uses this thread. Im almost positive he reads it from beginning to end every day.

 

[spankrjs]

So, inquiring minds want to know. What is your method to recall your maintenance items? Do you keep a log of when things were done, when they need to be done again? What is your method? I am terrible and tracking oil changes much less lubing ball joints.

Post #1,952 on this thread helps me remember the big stuff.

When I change the oil, I write date/mileage on the filter box lid and keep it in the console.

Every 3k miles, oil change and grease all the zerks (steering/suspension/driveshafts/clutch linkage)
Every 6k miles, same as above but add a tire rotation

Other stuff, if I am working on something related, will address it. For example, if I put a clutch in I will usually put new transmission and Dana 300 fluid in. Working on brakes, maybe a diff fluid change. Belts and hoses at least every 10 years.

Wheel bearings, I first did after 60k miles, maybe a bit too long. This time, 40k miles, better but u-joints were dried out. So, will address it next time with less miles.

So, with the wheel bearings, might as well hit the spindle bearings, u-joints, ball joints, and the Dana 30 oil since the axle shafts have to come out.

Certain things, just depends. For example, the AX15 in this Jeep holds 4 quarts of oil. I changed it out at 30k miles and still looked new. A T5, 2 quarts, i change more frequently.

But, the Post #1952 is mainly what I look at. I have a similar post on my Green Scrambler thread. A notebook would work, too.

 

[spankrjs]

And like all of my little projects, this one takes a detour, but not too far out of the way.

Last time I messed with the front end I noticed the driver side axle shaft oil seal must have been seaping a bit. It hasn't magically gotten better, has not really got worse, but I told myself I would change these seals the next time I was up here, so...

Passenger side dry:



Driver side damp:



It never puddles, never see liquid oil, but you can tell it leaks due to the stuck on dirt.

Removing the differential cover to expose the front Ox Locker.





That Lube Locker gasket has been on here for over 15 years and 104k miles. I have only removed the differential cover twice (drain plug in cover makes lube changes easy) and still no leaks. Pretty happy with that purchase.

Differential stored out of the way. I had to gently pry it out of the axle housing. All teeth and bearings still feel and look fine in the Dana 30.



Don't mix up the bearing journals!!



Leaking seal, don't really see damage, but you can see where crud has stuck to the oil leaking past the rubber seal.



Non leaking seal. Probably could have left it in place but that would probably be a false economy.



Top good, bottom bad.



Getting all the crud out of the axle tubes. Surprisingly, not a whole lot.



Should pick up the new seals tomorrow, I have a seal install tool coming in Friday. These seals are a PIA to change, at least for me, hoping the cheap Amazon tool I bought will make it easier on me. Still going to buy three seals!!!

That's it for now.