Nasty Axel U Joint

[Lunentucker]

Inspected mine today

Sponsored

 

[Renegade]

Either the seal is missing altogether, or the retaining clip was installed next to the seal. It’s hard to tell from pictures.

 

[Maximus Gladius]

A little grease around the u-joint seals is normal. Now if you see a reddish dust around the seal. The u-joint is toast.

I’ll update you awl what the service advisor tells me about them when it gets dropped off on Monday.

 

[Rusty PW]

Inspected mine today

That's good for another 100,000 miles. No problem. NOT.

 

[Andy29847]

No. It’s only what I could see at the moment thats broken. I have a maintenance schedule at 48k kms to do and they know about the U Joint and they can hunt down the rest.

Here are the front axle joints from my TJ (taken a couple of years ago). One is good, one is bad. For the bad one, you can see the colored dust that has come out of the joint. When I pulled this axle off the Jeep and tried to move the joint, it was frozen in one axis. I really had no symptoms except for the decolorization.

 

[Uparms]

Was wondering if the sway bar disconnect gizmo is oil/grease lubricated. I’ve got 13k left to go before I would consider taking that apart to clean out and re lubricate. If that’s even a thing.

No.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

You have a shimmy and popping noises in the front and the back and you think the bad seal on your axle u-joint is going to fix all that?

It's enough to cause it on the front end. Been down that road with my F250.

A little grease around the u-joint seals is normal.

Since when with a non-greasable joint?
It's typically a sign there is wear and it's wobbling forcing the grease out. The seal isn't sealing because of the wobble.
I'd not be happy if I saw that.
It's the precursor to the red rust.
Factory lubed joints shouldn't be forcing that much grease out. That seal should seal. I'd bet he could take a bar and wiggle it.

 

[Rusty PW]

It's enough to cause it on the front end. Been down that road with my F250.



Since when with a non-greasable joint?
It's typically a sign there is wear and it's wobbling forcing the grease out. The seal isn't sealing because of the wobble.
I'd not be happy if I saw that.
It's the precursor to the red rust.
Factory lubed joints shouldn't be forcing that much grease out. That seal should seal. I'd bet he could take a bar and wiggle it.

I seen a little grease around the seal for ages. Not a problem. Normally it's the excess that doesn't get wiped off.

 

[Maximus Gladius]

UPDATE: Got the truck back and as GoatPowder and Rusty PW said…”it’s normal to have grease seepage”. My oil seeping rear shocks was also “normal” and not dripping so corporate wouldn’t approve any replacements.

I did ask for the tech to retorque all the front and rear suspension nuts and bolts and was charged 1/2 hour for that. No problem there, and the popping stopped.

Truck goes back in on Tuesday so they can find what’s causing a slight vibration in the steering wheel when 4H is engaged. My hunch is still the front Ujoint.

I did mention the vibration and it is noted on the service order.

QUESTION:
Are the aftermarket UJoints better like Spicer or something else than the mopar ones? Would you go sealed or manual grease zerks?

These pics were taken the morning I was waiting in line to put the truck in. I saw extra grease slinging so took these pics.

 

[Maximus Gladius]

My understanding of “sealed” is that they are maintenance free. If you’re seeing grease seeping or oozing out and slinging, the seal is broken. If stuff is coming out, then road grim, shit, dirts sand particles and other scratchy stuff is getting in.

If I don’t have the option of putting a grease gun on that to flush out the bearing, then it can only go down hill from here and it’s a matter of time before it needs replacing.

 

[KevinC]

You have Spicer joints from the factory. If they are indeed in need of replacement, I would buy sealed Spicer again.

KevinC

 

[Rusty PW]

Is the grease only coming out on one pinion or on others too?

Can't quite tell on the picture.

 

[Maximus Gladius]

Is the grease only coming out on one pinion or on others too?

Can't quite tell on the picture.

The one is bad. The other one right straight across is also leaking but not as bad. The other two, no and the passenger one is good

 

[Rusty PW]

The one is bad. The other one right straight across is also leaking but not as bad. The other two, no and the passenger one is good

Think maybe you got some extra grease in the cups and it squeezed out. Wipe it off and keep an eye on it. The dealership all ready knows about it.

 

[Maximus Gladius]

Awesome. Sure will!

Sponsored