D30 front maintenance

[Mudgee hunter]

Pick your brains...
Soon to fit new hubs in my 97 XJ, but whilst apart I'm considering fitting new uni joints to the axles.
Even perhaps new a ball joint kit.
Might as well make a day of it.
Are all The uni joints fitted the same through out?
( two front axles, front drive shaft, and rear tailshaft? )
I found one part# dans-5-760x...

[Jonny Jeep]

5-760X is the axle shaft UJ. It's stronger than what was originally used, and was introduced after Jeep asked Spicer for a stronger UJ for the TJ Rubicon.

The drive shafts are a different UJ which is 5-1310X for the spicer replacements.

Spicer ball joint kit is 706944X which is one upper and one lower.

[layback40]

If its not broke, dont try & fix it!
When you remove the axles from the diff, you pull them out through the seals that are inboard next to the diff carrier. When you put the axles back in you risk damaging the seals & they are difficult to replace. If the axle uni joints are ok, best leave them, same goes for the ball joints. If you damage the seals, it will be a weekend job, not a day.
The 5-760 U joints are not listed by Spicer in Australia, only the old original ones. You will not find them at bearing distributors, after market jeep places may have them or some one like Rock Auto, that is ex USA.

[Mudgee hunter]

Cheers. Got 250k on the clock.
I will check them for play whilst still fitted.
At the moment the noise in the front gets louder as I turn to the right, so guessing the left side is the worst .
Like a small flat spot on tyre vibration noise.
Not obvious through steering wheel so much like a rear uni that is shot.

[Mudgee hunter]

Cheers Jonny jeep, at 250k...
I'm happy to spend a weekend if that's what it takes..
I'm sure I'm slide the axles back in gently without pinching them through.
Some say " if it ain't broke.. don't fix it"...
Some say "A stitch in time saves nine"....
What a pain in the bum it would be to replace the wheel bearing hubs...
Only to feel/hear the cv/uni joints ...
$100... Just do it!
If those seals do leak after sliding the axles in and out from age/fatigue ...
They where stuffed anyhow...!
I bought new cv uni joints, paid the extra and got decent greasable out seals, $100....
$200 bucks....
WTF! And bugga all extra time to fit.
When your out the back of bumduck.. $200 Is nothing when broken down ...
Everyone I know who says "don't fix it, unless it's broken"....
Rings you to come get them out their shit problem..

[Mudgee hunter]

Who would replace a clutch without putting a new thrust bearing in....
Guess who...