Problem with 1995 4x4, spindle or u-joint?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 12
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From: Pittsburgh
Problem with 1995 4x4, spindle or u-joint?
I was checking out my manual hubs today since there was a clicking sound when I last engaged them. The passenger side looked pretty good. The drivers side was missing the lock ring that goes around the end of the spindle. I could push and pull the spindle in and out about 1/4". Is that normal? Also, I could wiggle the spindle back and forth a little bit. Does that mean the bearings are shot?
I picked up a lock ring and reassembled everything. The clicking was gone and it would go into 4 wheel drive. Driving straight seemed fine, but when I turned the wheel there was a clunking sound. I put it back into 2 wheel drive and looked underneath. With the tires straight, I could turn the forward driveshaft by hand and everything moved free. With the wheelsl turned all the way to the driver's side, I could not turn the drive shaft, it would bind up. With the wheels turn partially to the driver's side, I could turn the drive shaft and then hand turn it through the resistance that I got. I noticed that when I turned the driveshaft and felt resistance, the driver's u-joint was bound up and the passenger side shaft/u-joint was spinning.
Would this be a u-joint problem or something with the spindle and differential connection?
Thanks...
I picked up a lock ring and reassembled everything. The clicking was gone and it would go into 4 wheel drive. Driving straight seemed fine, but when I turned the wheel there was a clunking sound. I put it back into 2 wheel drive and looked underneath. With the tires straight, I could turn the forward driveshaft by hand and everything moved free. With the wheelsl turned all the way to the driver's side, I could not turn the drive shaft, it would bind up. With the wheels turn partially to the driver's side, I could turn the drive shaft and then hand turn it through the resistance that I got. I noticed that when I turned the driveshaft and felt resistance, the driver's u-joint was bound up and the passenger side shaft/u-joint was spinning.
Would this be a u-joint problem or something with the spindle and differential connection?
Thanks...
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh
I've been doing some reading about this trying to figure it out and what the fix is going to be. It sounds like a u joint to me but not entirely sure.
The front end is a Dana 44. From the axle code H9 this means the front is an open differential, right? With that in mind, the behavior of being able to hand turn the front drive shaft and having the passenger side axle turn while the driver side stop turning when it binds is normal, correct?
If so, then that would point to a binding u joint, which should be replaced. Any thoughts?
The front end is a Dana 44. From the axle code H9 this means the front is an open differential, right? With that in mind, the behavior of being able to hand turn the front drive shaft and having the passenger side axle turn while the driver side stop turning when it binds is normal, correct?
If so, then that would point to a binding u joint, which should be replaced. Any thoughts?
GIGGITY
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 12,055
Likes: 23
From: FLORIDA
Im pretty sure pulling in and out is normal. If the gears connected to the axle were as tight as a ticks azz the spiders would basically eat themselves. I never had a clicking sound, clicking sounds like u joints. But my bearings were bad, and if you take a slight turn at speed it should be a wom wom wom wom sound. Hope that helps.