• Hello Guest, we are proud to now have our Wiki online that is completely compiled and written by our members. Feel free to browse our Jeep-CJ Wiki or click on any orange keyword when looking at posts in the forum.

Installing Front axle universals

Installing Front axle universals

bbbobbb

Jeeper
Posts
60
Thanks
2
Location
perkasie
Vehicle(s)
1984 CJ7 258, Dana 30 & 44,
When installing my front axle universals, I got the clip on the one inside groove on the bearing cap but had to use the press so I could get the other caps groove clearance of the yoke so to put the clip in. I blew out the opposite side cap. As far as I know the ujoints are correct (Moog 378) Do I need to mill out the inside walls just a little to make clearance for the clip ?
UPDATE. I realize now maybe because I painted the shaft it my be making it harder to get the clips in..

IMG_4224.webp
 
Last edited:
When installing my front axle universals, I got the clip on the one inside groove on the bearing cap but had to use the press so I could get the other caps groove clearance of the yoke so to put the clip in. I blew out the opposite side cap. As far as I know the ujoints are correct (Moog 378) Do I need to mill out the inside walls just a little to make clearance for the clip ?

No... I’ve done a million of them and never ran into that. If you need to modify anything, modify the u-joint. It’s easier to replace!
Check the dimensions on the old ones... including the clips and compare to the new ones. Maybe the new clips are thicker?
I wouldn’t expect any problems recycling the old clips on the new u-joints. It’s not like they wear out.
 
You might have had a needle bearing slip out of place, preventing the cap from going all the way in.
 
You might have had a needle bearing slip out of place, preventing the cap from going all the way in.

Somebody had to say it but it wasn’t gonna be me lol.
If he did, he would see it and save himself the embarrassment of such a novice mistake when he is carefully measuring everything.
 
I had the same problem on my rear drive shaft. Did some reading, found out that sometimes pressing them in compresses the yoke just enough that you can't get the other side in. You'll have to google it, I forget what the fix is.

Or it could be the needle bearing thing ;-)
 
Thanks for the replies, No I did not drop a needle in the bottom. I did remove some of the POR 15 paint in the clip area, it help a little but now Im going to grind a very little off the clips thickness. That should work.
 
Make sure that the groves are clean before installing the clips. Also, are the U joints greasable? If they are, remove the zerk while pressing the caps in. If there is too much grease under the caps, and there is nowhere for the grease to go, it's like trying to push a hydraulic cylinder in without opening the control valve to let the oil flow.
 

Jeep-CJ Donation Drive

Help support Jeep-CJ.com by making a contribution.

Help support Jeep-CJ.com by making a contribution.
Goal
$200.00
Earned
$0.00
This donation drive ends in
0 hours, 0 minutes, 0 seconds
  0.0%
Back
Top Bottom