Two questions about my MJ

[MrSimon]

1. I noticed what I think is some gear oil on the inside of my dirver's side steering knuckle. It sure looks like its leaking out of the axle tube and running down the knuckle. I'm assuming there is a bad seal in the tube. I know nothing about how to fix it - are seals something I can do myself? While I'm at it, would it be a good idea to change all my seals and maybe convert over to a one piece pass. side shaft (I have a CAD)?

2. I un-hooked my front drive shaft to do some front end work the other day. One of the caps on the u-joint popped off and a million little pins (roller bearings?) spilled all over the garage. I just put the cap back on and pretended I didn't see anything. I'm guessing I should replace the u-joint, but I've never done that. Is it something I can do myself, or do I need to take it in?

[muduck18]

1. I noticed what I think is some gear oil on the inside of my dirver's side steering knuckle. It sure looks like its leaking out of the axle tube and running down the knuckle. I'm assuming there is a bad seal in the tube. I know nothing about how to fix it - are seals something I can do myself? While I'm at it, would it be a good idea to change all my seals and maybe convert over to a one piece pass. side shaft (I have a CAD)?

2. I un-hooked my front drive shaft to do some front end work the other day. One of the caps on the u-joint popped off and a million little pins (roller bearings?) spilled all over the garage. I just put the cap back on and pretended I didn't see anything. I'm guessing I should replace the u-joint, but I've never done that. Is it something I can do myself, or do I need to take it in?

The gear oil thing, I think it depends on how bad it is. but wait to hear from the other guys, when I re-geared my axle I tried to find the seals to fix that problem, and couldn't find them locally, so its prolly something that you have to order. I Gave up and figured I change my Diff oil after any major wheeling trip anyway so no reason to worry.

the u-joint....DO NOT DRIVE IT LIKE THAT!!!!!!!!
You MUST replace it ASAP.
If you don't know how, take the DS out, and bring it over I can do it. It just takes a press or a hammer and socket its not that hard. but don't drive it without those bearings.
It will heat up, and break at best. at worse it will break your straps and strip out your pinion, and put a hole in your floor and possibly destroy your drive shaft...
thats my opinion.
if it was me thats what i would do.

[MrShaft696]

1. I noticed what I think is some gear oil on the inside of my dirver's side steering knuckle. It sure looks like its leaking out of the axle tube and running down the knuckle. I'm assuming there is a bad seal in the tube. I know nothing about how to fix it - are seals something I can do myself? While I'm at it, would it be a good idea to change all my seals and maybe convert over to a one piece pass. side shaft (I have a CAD)?

2. I un-hooked my front drive shaft to do some front end work the other day. One of the caps on the u-joint popped off and a million little pins (roller bearings?) spilled all over the garage. I just put the cap back on and pretended I didn't see anything. I'm guessing I should replace the u-joint, but I've never done that. Is it something I can do myself, or do I need to take it in?


damn that gave me a good laugh man, not that I think you are stupid, but I have done things just the same and pretended that I didnt see it, so I can relate. You need the needle bearings for sure. Just go get a replacment u-joint.

If you are talking about the part of the driveshaft that connects to the axle you can replace that yourself very easily yourself with a hammer/vise & some sockets. Just search how or PM me or anyone else who has changed one.

[Begster]

1. I noticed what I think is some gear oil on the inside of my dirver's side steering knuckle. It sure looks like its leaking out of the axle tube and running down the knuckle. I'm assuming there is a bad seal in the tube. I know nothing about how to fix it - are seals something I can do myself? While I'm at it, would it be a good idea to change all my seals and maybe convert over to a one piece pass. side shaft (I have a CAD)?


Changing the inner axle seal isn't too bad. You have to pull the shafts and pull the carrier to get at them though. Shafts aren't hard, and as long as you keep the races on the correct sides, and the orientation of the bearing caps correct when you assembly everything again, you should be fine.

As far as converting to a solid axle, I know I've seen a lot of people who have problems with the new seal they put in leaking, and it being a pain in the butt.

Here is a pretty decent write up to change the seals.
http://www.go.jeep-xj.info/HowtoD30AxlesSeals.htm


2. I un-hooked my front drive shaft to do some front end work the other day. One of the caps on the u-joint popped off and a million little pins (roller bearings?) spilled all over the garage. I just put the cap back on and pretended I didn't see anything. I'm guessing I should replace the u-joint, but I've never done that. Is it something I can do myself, or do I need to take it in?
These are needle bearings. And yes, you need to replace the u-joint, also not hard. The thing is now that there is play in that cap, and the torque going to the shaft will eventually make the inner part of the u-joint come into contact with the cap, and if the contact it hard enough, it will shatter the cap, and probably take out the straps and possibly the pinion. This will also drop the shaft, and if you are driving on a road, that shaft will easily hit a pothole, or something in the road, and it will want to stop while the car still wants to go, and it will transfer that force to the t-case, and most likely take it out.

[WrEkLEsSXJ]

my inner axle seals are leaking too, not real bad though.. hasnt hurt anything yet.. just make sure oil level is good. something that probably should be replaced sooner than later but as long as your not runnin dry id say your ok for now..

as far as the u-joint.. x2 on muduck's answer.. take out the DS until you get it fixed.

[Andy in Pa.]

LOL... I am still laughing!!! Only because I can totally hear you saying "OK.... I'm gonna pretend I didn't see that..." :anon::laugh:

Pull the shaft, go get a new u-joint and bring it over. Takes about 15 mins to change. It will also give me a good reason to point and laugh too...

As for the axle seal, you need those Alloy USA axle seals that slip into the ends of the tubes. These are good for a couple of reasons:
1. You don't need to replace those inner axle seals... they are a pain to do.
2. If you ever break a shaft and don't have a replacement, you can just slip a taped socket into the seal and drive it home that way (after putting the outer stub shaft back in of course).
3. IF you break a shaft, you stand a better chance of the inner shaft not binding and ripping off the knuckle IF you need to move the Jeep to change it. This outer axle seal acts as an "outer bearing race", because it supports the shaft.

I wouldn't wheel on a D30 without these seals.

[bandit455]

how hard is it to put in those alloy usa seals^^^^^

[MrSimon]

how hard is it to put in those alloy usa seals^^^^^

And where is a good place to buy them?

[RCman]

how hard is it to put in those alloy usa seals^^^^^ Simple. Very simple.
And where is a good place to buy them? Any place here (http://sponsorship.naxja.org/). When I was rocking the D30 I got mine from Dave @ Northridge4x4.

[Andy in Pa.]

Q-Tec also has them:
http://www.quadratec.com/products/52420_900.htm

But as RCMan said, you can probably get them cheaper from one of the sponsors.

[bandit455]

so when is the party that everyone is gonna put these on?

[Andy in Pa.]

It just so happens that there is a post going on about these axle tube seals. Here are a couple of good deals on these axle tube seals in this post:
http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1003847

A.

[John__505]

The inners seals have been leaking in my front diff for a year now, I will be replaceing them very shortly along with adding the alloy axle shaft tube seals when I do the new axles.
Already have all the parts, just need to find the time and strength to do them in the heat. :gonnablow

[Joev]

I hear another work party coming on soon at MrSimon's place...I have a ton of work to do on my XJ...

[knuckle_buster]

I hear another work party coming on soon at MrSimon's place...I have a ton of work to do on my XJ...


Yes, and for lunch, he is serving meatloaf wrapped in bacon!!! :thumbup:

[Joev]

Meatloaf wrapped in bacon...topped off with french fries and infused with Beef Stew!! that's a hell of a lunch!!

[MrSimon]

The work party will have to wait a bit. My wife went and had a baby on Monday night. Big sucker too ... over nine pounds.

Give me a week or two and I'll set something up. I do have a decent amount of work that I need help with.

[muduck18]

Congratulations!

[Joev]

Hey..Congrats J..Nice..How is everyone doing? You get the kid in the Jeep yet?

[MrSimon]

Thanks. I changed hid diaper on the hood of the mj. He seemed to like it.

If I raise him right, he'll be a square headlight guy just like me!!!

[Victor S.]

Congrats on the baby. Hope the wife and baby are doing OK.
Victor

[Andy in Pa.]

Congrats Jordan!!! 9 lbs...wow, that is a big boy.... name?? Please tell me it isn't MJ.

[Joev]

Good one Andy!!! Sweet baby MJ..Very cool!!

[D.I.T.A]

congrats dude . at nine pound at least you know he is healthy

[MrSimon]

His name is Xavier Jackson. Guess what we are gonna call him???

Nah, just kidding. We named him Charles Theodore ... gonna call him Charlie.

Here is a pic of the family.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_0PuO93KPDB4/SnrFbFx-uTI/AAAAAAAABCE/ZV9Z_vafvJU/s800/Charlie%20068.JPG

[Andy in Pa.]

His name is Xavier Jackson. Guess what we are gonna call him???

Nah, just kidding. We named him Charles Theodore ... gonna call him Charlie.

Here is a pic of the family.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_0PuO93KPDB4/SnrFbFx-uTI/AAAAAAAABCE/ZV9Z_vafvJU/s800/Charlie%20068.JPG

Your daughter is a cutie!! The boy kinda looks like you though.... poor kid...

JK!! one of each now, congrats!! Looks like you'll have a wrenching buddy in a few more years. My son Jerry always puts the lug nuts on for me (I give him the socket and he tightens them down, then wiggles the tire and tightens them some more) when I put the wheels back on the Jeeps. He is 2, almost 3.... I figure next year I'll show him how the impact wrench works.:repair::D

[MrSimon]

Your daughter is a cutie!! The boy kinda looks like you though.... poor kid...

JK!! one of each now, congrats!! Looks like you'll have a wrenching buddy in a few more years. My son Jerry always puts the lug nuts on for me (I give him the socket and he tightens them down, then wiggles the tire and tightens them some more) when I put the wheels back on the Jeeps. He is 2, almost 3.... I figure next year I'll show him how the impact wrench works.:repair::D

You better not teach him how to REMOVE lug nuts .... or someday you're gonna have a wheel fall off in the middle of the road.

[nhrocker]

You better not teach him how to REMOVE lug nuts .... or someday you're gonna have a wheel fall off in the middle of the road.

I thought that was called a "learning experience". As in experience it once and you learn not to do it again REAL quick. :D