U-Joint Recommendations

[GR1ND3R]

I busted the old rear universal joint on my '81 CJ7 . Looks like one of the strap bolts wiggled out so the other bolt broke and the joint twisted out. There was just one clunk and I was going slow at the time - luckily no apparent damage.
The broken bolt came out easy enough and I'm replacing the busted joint with a Moog joint from AutoZone just to get it rolling again.
I plan to check (read: tighten) the other joint bolts while I'm at it, but it may be time to just replace them all anyway. I found some serious wear on the very dry joint I removed.
After this immediate fix, I'll have the luxury of taking the time to order parts online if needed - any recommendations for universal joints? This is a daily driver, so I'm not looking for exotic, just quality.
Thanks

1981 CJ7, AMC 304 , T-176 , Dana 300 , AMC20 , not sure of front end diff yet
4" lift on 12.5x35"

 

[mtnwhlr]

I like Moog, I have four of their Ball joints sitting here for my truck.

 

[Torxhead]

Moog is #2, Dana-Spicer is #1. The older CJs have a u-bolt style type u-joint with a 5/16 diameter bolt that you can convert to and requires changing out the yoke.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

Dana-Spicer is OEM, to our Jeeps.
All I have used for the last 32+ years in mine.
LG

 

[boney]

I hope it's okay for me to jump into this thread with a bit of a hijack.

I recently replaced my u-joints and discovered that the yoke on my Dana 300 Transfer Case is just a hair bit wider than the joints. Interestingly, they fit the drive shaft and rear-end perfectly.

I changed them out because I was having a highway vibration that was definitely consistent with u-joints (or at least the rotational speed of the drive shaft). It turns that the front joint can slide back and forth about 1/8" in the yoke. I can take my time centering the u-joint in the slightly-too-wide yoke and eliminate almost all of the vibration. Obviously not ideal.

This transfer case may not be original to my 83 CJ. The jeep was originally a 4-speed and is now a 5-speed. So, curiously, did the later model CJ's or other jeeps with this T-5 /D300 configuration come with different sized u-joints?

I'm likely to just put a new yoke on it, since I already have a seal and replacement nut. But curiosity is getting me at this point.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

When you say slides back and forth-Do you mean side to side??
Sounds like the wrong yoke is in the t'case.
PLZ post up some pictures.
My CJ was bought new and the all the DS u-joints are the same size.
Dana/Spicer 5-153X is the correct U-joint.
LG

 

[boney]

I have the right joints, thanks for clarifying that.

Yes, the front u-joint on the rear drive shaft can slide about 1/8" side-to-side in the yoke. I was betting that, since the joints are a perfect fit for the shaft and rear-end yoke, that something was up with the one on the t'case. It seems odd that someone would have changed it.

I didn't check to see the fit of the old joints before I changed them but I suspect that I swapped them out needlessly now that I see what's going on there.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

Do you still have the old joints?
LG

 

[Bjasper]

I busted the old rear universal joint on my '81 CJ7. Looks like one of the strap bolts wiggled out so the other bolt broke and the joint twisted out. There was just one clunk and I was going slow at the time - luckily no apparent damage.
The broken bolt came out easy enough and I'm replacing the busted joint with a Moog joint from AutoZone just to get it rolling again.
I plan to check (read: tighten) the other joint bolts while I'm at it, but it may be time to just replace them all anyway. I found some serious wear on the very dry joint I removed.
After this immediate fix, I'll have the luxury of taking the time to order parts online if needed - any recommendations for universal joints? This is a daily driver, so I'm not looking for exotic, just quality.
Thanks

1981 CJ7, AMC 304, T176, D300, AMC20, not sure of front end diff yet
4" lift on 12.5x35"

Spicer ujoints are top shelf also Tom Woods gold seal I use Tom woods.you can order them online from Tom woods at a fair price