Baystate Jeepers

Guess I'm not alone, seeing how there's a term for the noise you get when you don't maintain your Tom Woods drive shaft and your centering ball does it's "angry sparrows" imitation

Live and learn. I asked resident Heep god Kurt about fixing this and he not only gave me instructions so easy even I can follow them (except I'm not big on visualizing so I found a web site with pictures to help it all make sense) but he also gave me the PN for the assembly

The Spicer PN for the part is: 211355x
You can also order them from Dennys Driveshafts.
See... http://www.dennysdriveshaft.com/c457_cv_parts.html

So here's Kurt's step by step, and a link with pics, to help you "see" what needs to be done

Thanks again Kurt!

http://www.stu-offroad.com/axle/drivesh ... haft-5.htm


The assembly has a spring under it pushing toward the outermost U-Joint caps.
Just work a screwdriver between the u-joint cap and the assembly and it will spring back.
Now work the bearing cap off.
Repeat for the other bearing cap.
Next remove the two snap rings retaining the other two u-joint caps.
Press/hammer the u-joint out of the "H" assembly. You may have to push the old centering assembly back to get the u-joint out.
Once the u-joint is out the old centering assembly will just lift out if it doesn't fall out.
If your new assembly doesn't have a spring in it be sure to transfer the spring from the old centering assembly to the new one.
Installation is just the reverse of the above steps.
Grease it up well while you have access to the needle fitting.

PEEP ! FjR68

This same procedure applies any double cardan aka CV driveshaft like a TJ or XJ front driveshaft too.

Carl, Tractor Supply sells the needle attachment for your grease gun. Just bought a new one the other day.

Most auto parts stores have some kind of grease gun needle fitting... forget which had the one I got.

NAPA has them too.

Tx guys. I'm doing a more comprehensive article for the May issue of Tracks, have all this good stuff covered

Looking forward to the next issue of Tracks. I wish I had 1/2 the literary skills that you have.

Spelling is good also (bumpha) I saw it and cracked. Could picture standing there hearing it just like its spelled. FjR68

DOUG wrote: I wish I had 1/2 the literary skills that you have.

I wish I had 1/2 the sexayness.

I installed a brand new TW drive shaft 1 month before MOAB and my angry sparrows started on the Onion Creek trail (day 2 I believe). The shaft failed just outside of Denver on our way home on I80 (I could not believe it and I was so pissed as it cost like $400!). I called TW when I got home and he replaced the CV joint and U-joints as well. All it cost me was $25 in shipping out, they covered everything else. I do have the needle fitting formy grease gun and do use it regularly.

As I've learned over the years having spare parts is essentual to a great day of wheeling. If it was not for Mark packing a spare shaft in John's mobile repair shop I might still be in CO. Fail to preparem prepare to fail.

That being said I'm picking up spare drive shafts from Mitchell Driveline in Shrewsbury on Tuesday.

Curtis

I never bothered to get the needle grease fitting, I have the super short SLE so it sucks big time. Find it 10x easier to have Dom do it. He always goes through everything on the jeep at the same time so all and all probably best for the jeep.