Spare Belts for Trail Runs: What do I need?

[MattJ]

I read about this emergency valve stem repair kit and added it to my tire repair kit:

[BlackNBlue-ISH]

The Colby valves look like a good product.

[RandyCarol]

Can you use that kit on a wheel that has TPMS sensors?

[Modeler]

I read about this emergency valve stem repair kit and added it to my tire repair kit:

I have a set of the Colby valves in my tire kit as well, I'd asked for them for Christmas.

Randy, they are for temporary use if you rip off a valve stem. Since the holes for a regular or TPMS stem are the same diameter you could use them. But, the TPMS is going to be sliding around inside the tire until it gets opened up and replaced with a new one.

[Frank]

They all come with lube in them. Its not enough to let them live long , but it would get you home. They put it there to hold the needle bearings in when you install them. If you dont upgrade to grease able U-Joints at this time , you would be foolish. If you find a U-joint with the fitting in one of the end caps instead of the X portion of the body , it will be slightly stronger. If your smart and replace both u-joints at the same time , make sure you put the fitting in the same spot on both ends to ease in greasing it as you only have to rotate the shaft once to get to both. FjR68

[MattJ]

Thanks, Frank - good advice! I also found something cool in the back of the Quadratec catalog: a listing of nearly every spare part available from Mopar and other suppliers. I think it might be a handy guide to have on the trail, so I ripped the pages out and put them in a plastic sleeve to shove in the bottom of my trail kit. And yes, it only lists a single belt for my JKU - the serpentine.

PS- I was able to find a set of spare heavy-duty balls joints for MUCH cheaper price from Quadratec.

[Hank]

Can you use that kit on a wheel that has TPMS sensors?

So our sensors are screwed to the stem:

If you snapped the stem off, you'd definitely have the sensor rolling around in the wheel, but the Colby's should at least get you to the tire shop. I'd suspect you'll need a new sensor after even a couple miles, but it's better than being stuck.

[JeepAddict]

You could always just install stems with no sensors and have the TPMS turned off. I've been running this way for a few years with no issues or sensors to break or replace. I have replaced stems with very little effort and plugged about a half dozen tires. No ill effects on either end.

[BlackNBlue-ISH]

They all come with lube in them. Its not enough to let them live long , but it would get you home. They put it there to hold the needle bearings in when you install them. If you dont upgrade to grease able U-Joints at this time , you would be foolish. If you find a U-joint with the fitting in one of the end caps instead of the X portion of the body , it will be slightly stronger. If your smart and replace both u-joints at the same time , make sure you put the fitting in the same spot on both ends to ease in greasing it as you only have to rotate the shaft once to get to both. FjR68

Frank, when I spoke with Tom woods driveshafts while ordering a shaft a few years ago, he mentioned that the non-greasable shafts are bout to tighter tolerances to both keep out contaminates and to keep in the grease. As such, their service interval is much greater, but you’ll have to pull the joint out to fill them with grease. If you keep up with the maintenance of greasabel joints, you’ll need to grease em every 3-4K miles. Is this true?

[MDSRACING398]

If this will be first time the ball joints get changed I would not use knurled joints, better off with smooth on first few changes atleast in my opinion.

[ZAEDOCK]

If you dont upgrade to grease able U-Joints at this time , you would be foolish.

I respectfully disagree Frank. I prefer solid u-joints and settled on good old Spicers with full circle clips for my YJ.
I believe they are better sealed. Besides, no one ever services u-joints the way they should and a hollow trunnion is weaker, IMO.

[Frank]

I also have heard that a sealed bearing needs less service. I have a hard time believing they would build a U-Joint with tighter tolerance than another. Other than "Doorman" products. I have and will always believe "Grease is Cheap" . I have never lost a U-Joint , Ball Joint , TRE or any other. Maybe I dont wheel hard enough. Orrrr , just every time I wheel it gets washed and lubed . Go figure , When we went as a club to Canada , I believe at least 10 people used my grease gun. I have no issues greasing between a two day event . Now you know someone that services joints like they should . At the very least , every oil change. The debate shall go on for ever ! Respectfully Back at ya FjR68

[JeepAddict]

Just as an experiment, Friday afternoon, I replaced both front axle hub / bearings and axle u joints using only the tools I carry on the trail. It took Just over two hours and that was on a garage floor. I used Spicer sealed U joints and OE hubs.

[Frank]

If you sat in a pile of dirt also , Id say that was good practice for doing it on a trail . That knowledge will be priceless . FjR68

[Kurt]

And in the rain... in the middle of Rock Creek...