U-Joint Question

[Loach505]

So, got myself a bad U-Joint on my 95 Jeep Wrangler YJ.

Everywhere I'm looking for U-Joints, I see different ones from MOOG, Spicer, Valuecraft, Duralast, and AC Delco. What's everyones preferred brand? Is there any that's better and stronger than the others? I'd rather not have to fix this again if I don't have to.

 

[machoheadgames]

Spicer is the way to go. That said, don't go by the u-joint for your year, because it probably won't work for what you have. Not sure if you installed it or the PO did, but you appear to have a Ford 8.8 rear axle and it probably doesn't use the 1330 joint that a stock 95 would have used at the rear axle.

I would suggest a non greasable joint.

 

[Loach505]

Yeah, the previous owner did various upgrades and changes to it. I knew it didn't have a stock rear axle, couldn't quite remember exactly what it was. Is an axle swap like this common? Currently, looking for a place in town that'll fix it for me. I'm pretty confident the Jeep dealership isn't where I should go. Even if it was all stock, being 29 years old, most dealerships won't touch things that old. A few years ago, I owned a 2001 Kia Sportage and when I took it to the Kia dealership for some work, the lead tech was confused as he'd never seen a Kia quite like that before. Yeah, the lead tech at the Kia dealership had never seen a 20 year old Kia. So, I'm not gonna roll the dice and try the Jeep dealership, especially with the mods it's got, that's for sure.

 

[machoheadgames]

The 8.8 is a pretty common axle swap for a YJ due to being close to the correct width and having the correct wheel bolt pattern.

You also appear to have an aftermarket double cardan driveshaft. Potentially, you could have a 1310, 1310 to 1330 conversion, or 1330 joint.

A u-joint is a very simple repair for any shop that is worth being a shop. I wouldn’t go to the dealer for that. I’d find a regular mechanic or take it to a driveline shop if one is nearby. Fixing it yourself with a hammer and a socket is what I’d recommend to most, but if you aren’t comfortable with it then may as well take it somewhere.

 

[DOWNS]

Get a Spicer "life" joint. It's sealed and what would have come from the factory. Some folks like greaseable joints, I don't bother. The originals go 100-200k miles before really needing replacement, and you can dig around and find the data that shows sealed non greaseable u-joints last longer than greaseable ones.