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 /Dana 300 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 , T-176 , Dana 300 , 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