Jeep Cherokee U Joint Replacement

How to perform a U Joint replacement on a DANA 30 front axle of your Jeep Cherokee

Replacing the U Joints are not as hard as they look. Once you get the assembly on your workbench the process is really quite easy. You shouldn't have much trouble whether you are using a press or just hammering them out. I just used a BFH and they came right out. Here is how I did it:


REMOVE THE AXLE NUT

Remove the cotter pin and the spring washer and nut cover and loosen the nut while the wheel is still on the ground so you can get leverage... or you could put it into 4 wheel drive and that shoud work with the Jeep lifted and the wheel off.

Here are some other tips: HOW TO REMOVE THE AXLE NUT


Lift the front and remove the nut and washer



REMOVE THE BRAKE CALIPER

Just remove the two bolts on the back and it should just slide out.
NOTE: It rotates off the bottom and comes right out.

REMOVE THE HUB ASSEMBLY
Remove the three bolts that hold the Hub Assembly on. They are the three with 12 point heads. I think they are 13 mm.



HOW TO REMOVE THE HUB






PULL OUT THE SHAFT
It should just come right out
NOTE: You don't have to worry about the differential oil. The level isn't high enough to lose any significant amount.



REMOVE THE C-CLIPS
Just stick your screwdriver down there and wack it with the hammer and it should pop right out.
NOTE: I sprayed it first with some PB Blaster to loosen things up a bit.
NOTE: I also hammered one side to loosen the clip on the other side. Then did the same to the other side to take the other clip out.







REMOVE THE OLD U JOINT
I used a socket and a steel rod to hammer the joints through. It was easy enough that if you don't want to buy a press you should be fine. A press would make it really easy though.
Once you hammer one side through, flip it over and hammer the other side through and pull the old U Joint out.











INSTALL THE NEW U-JOINT
Remove the ends of the U Joint. Place the U joint inside the axle shaft and place one of the ends into the hole.
Hammer it through. It should go on really easily.
Flip it over and place the other end in the hole and hammer it in.






INSERT THE NEW C-CLIPS
NOTE: I hammered one side in slightly more than the other so I could fit the C-clip easily then hammered the other side so the other C-clip would fit.
NOTE: I noticed that it was kinda hard to rotate when it was mounted so I wacked the ends with my hammer lightly and freed it up.


Remove the ends and repeat the process to install the rest of the way.










YOU ARE ALL DONE.

Now just put it all back together. You have finished your u-joint replacement!

Comments