Driveshaft rebuild

[dom.robles]

i pulled my front driveshaft not long ago due to a noisy cv joint. i want to rebuild it so i can go on my way its my dd so ive just been driving without the front shaft. my question is should i just get a rebuild kit and rebuild it myself or should i bring it into a shop to have it rebuilt. if i should do it myself (which i would prefer bc im a broke student) what kit should i biuy to ensure i ha e what i need and it wont break so quickly. thanks guys!

 

[Mike_H]

I've rebuilt mine, and next time, I'll have it done. The parts are the biggest part of the expense. I think it was about 170 to buy parts (there is not kit that I'm aware of) and about 250 to have it rebuilt at a shop.

 

[CharlesHS]

In CA you will find that it cost more the $250 to have the driveshaft rebuilt.
It has been more than 10 years since I last brought a driveshaft to a shop for a rebuild; the price then was almost $275 with tax.
At that time I was still living in So Cal and decided to buy a new driveshaft from Tom Woods; for which I spent $325 that included shipping for a driveshaft with TW heavy duty U joints.
There are several driveshaft manufacturers talked about on this forum; the only company I have experience with is Tom Woods who builds excellent quality driveshafts for a good price and has excellent customer service. This is one shop where you get what you pay for...

 

[kanur]

I just had mine done, my mechanic removed it and took it to a machine shop and had a Spicer u-joint and cvc joint installed. $275 total. Rides smooth as silk now.

 

[MutantNinjaTJ]

I'm not sure what you are wanting to "rebuild" If you're talking three new u-joints and the centering ball then you have (3) u-joints at about $20 each and I believe the centering ball, spring and dust cover cost about $45. Go to auto Zone and borrow a ball joint puller kit to use in the removal and install of the u-joints and your done. Takes about an hour or two.

 

[CharlesHS]

I agree that most Jeep owners can do an inexpensive rebuild by replacing the U joints and centering ball, but to balance the shaft requires tools that we do not own.
When a shop does a rebuild of the driveshaft after the U joints and centering ball assembly are replaced the driveshaft is balanced.
Shop rebuilds get expensive when the labor is charged to provide their service.

 

[RHanna]

I'm fairly new to jeep ownership and had a similar noise so I decided to rebuild my front driveshaft. Why not I plan on off roading and I'd rather learn in my garage than on the trail for the first time. Plus if I completely screwed it up I could just purchase a better driveshaft from Adams or Tom woods.

This is the kit that I purchased
https://www.dennysdriveshaft.com/p3..._for_jeep_with_oem_1310_series_non_greas.html
You can do it cheaper if you want to reuse the centering yoke but that's not as easy as just replacing the whole joint. Youtube has a ton of video's showing you how to do it. I believe some members here prefer using a socket and hammer method stating that you are less likely to damage the yoke/driveshaft if you use that versus some sort of press.

3 things were difficult for me.
First, figuring out how to perfectly center the u joints so it would turn smoothly and insert the retaining clips properly.
Second, rebuilding the H yoke. If you do this in the wrong order then you can't get the other u joint in.
Third, removing the rubber boot for the centering yoke. I couldn't remove mine without really going at it and I wasn't sure how to install the replacement so I just left the old one on since it looked fine.

Lastly, I don't think I would ever bring the driveshaft to a shop to rebuild. Not when a brand new/better shaft could be purchased for roughly the same price.

 

[rouxbicon]

I agree that most Jeep owners can do an inexpensive rebuild by replacing the U joints and centering ball, but to balance the shaft requires tools that we do not own.
When a shop does a rebuild of the driveshaft after the U joints and centering ball assembly are replaced the driveshaft is balanced.
Shop rebuilds get expensive when the labor is charged to provide their service.

True statements, but...

how often does the average TJ owner (not the hardcore guys who play in the big rocks) need to have a driveshaft rebalanced, as opposed to merely replacing u-joints and centering ball assembly?

 

[jazngab]

Wouldn't it be a better idea to just get a new Adams or Woods DS instead of rebuilding if the prices are similar?

 

[SvtLdr]

I'm fairly new to jeep ownership and had a similar noise so I decided to rebuild my front driveshaft. Why not I plan on off roading and I'd rather learn in my garage than on the trail for the first time. Plus if I completely screwed it up I could just purchase a better driveshaft from Adams or Tom woods.

This is the kit that I purchased
https://www.dennysdriveshaft.com/p3..._for_jeep_with_oem_1310_series_non_greas.html
You can do it cheaper if you want to reuse the centering yoke but that's not as easy as just replacing the whole joint. Youtube has a ton of video's showing you how to do it. I believe some members here prefer using a socket and hammer method stating that you are less likely to damage the yoke/driveshaft if you use that versus some sort of press.

3 things were difficult for me.
First, figuring out how to perfectly center the u joints so it would turn smoothly and insert the retaining clips properly.
Second, rebuilding the H yoke. If you do this in the wrong order then you can't get the other u joint in.
Third, removing the rubber boot for the centering yoke. I couldn't remove mine without really going at it and I wasn't sure how to install the replacement so I just left the old one on since it looked fine.

Lastly, I don't think I would ever bring the driveshaft to a shop to rebuild. Not when a brand new/better shaft could be purchased for roughly the same price.

I noticed that the components in this kit are all NON-GREASEABLE. I'm one of those guys who prefers the option to add grease to my drivelines periodically. I know it's time to pull the front shaft as soon as I start to hear the "angry sparrows". I've found that I can quiet them right back down with just a little cleaning and fresh grease.

Denny also has a kit where all the components are GREASEABLE for $81. That's pretty reasonable IMO.
https://www.dennysdriveshaft.com/p2..._for_jeep_with_1310_series_frontrear_cv_.html

 

[CharlesHS]

Wouldn't it be a better idea to just get a new Adams or Woods DS instead of rebuilding if the prices are similar?

IF all that is required is the occasional U joint replacement then and the Jeep owner is mechanically inclined; replacing the U joints themselves is the better way to go, but when balancing of the drive shaft is needed then it's cheaper to buy a new driveshaft with the labor prices the driveshaft shops charge.
In So Cal the price of labor charged is ridiculous, but in other states the price of labor is cheaper and taking the driveshaft to a shop is probably better.

For the Jeep owners that do hard core Rock Crawling; the non greaseable HD U joint (solid trunions and better cup seals) is stronger then the greaseable U joint.

 

[SvtLdr]

True statements, but...

how often does the average TJ owner (not the hardcore guys who play in the big rocks) need to have a driveshaft rebalanced, as opposed to merely replacing u-joints and centering ball assembly?

I've had my front shaft rebalanced one time in the last 14 years of ownership - and it sees it's fair share of rocks too.

 

[ejay]

It's easier than you think. Helps if you have a press, though. I just did mine last month.

 

[CharlesHS]

I generally use a couple sockets and a vise to replace U joints.

 

[tworley]

Denny's has the centering yoke for $66, and 1310 ujoints for $15a piece. So for $111 you can do it yourself. Doubt it needs a balance. If you want the boot he charges $7. So you can save yourself a whopping $2 dollars by buying this:

https://www.dennysdriveshaft.com/p3..._for_jeep_with_oem_1310_series_non_greas.html
All you need is a bfh and a couple of sockets. Or if your careful, a balljoint press.

 

[freedom_in_4low]

pretty sure my last rebuild took less than an hour. Took it out in the driveway with a 3 pound hammer, pliers for the clips, a marker to mark the CV assembly and the shaft so they went back together the same way, a socket big enough for a u-joint cap to fit inside, and a socket just a bit smaller than a u-joint cap. Didn't need balanced afterward, but if it did, I would guess doing the work yourself and having a shop balance it should still be a significant savings.

 

[tworley]

I had a vibe I was trying to get rid of and after rebuilding it myself I took it to a shop to see if it was indeed a balance issue or if it was bent. Turned out the shaft was slightly bent and the shop charged me $100 to straighten it and throw on a coat of black paint.

 

[SvtLdr]

I had mine balanced due to the same circumstances. I think I only had $75 into the straighten/ balance/ paint job.

 

[freedom_in_4low]

I had a vibe I was trying to get rid of and after rebuilding it myself I took it to a shop to see if it was indeed a balance issue or if it was bent. Turned out the shaft was slightly bent and the shop charged me $100 to straighten it and throw on a coat of black paint.

I went to a local shop to have my TJ's Tom Wood driveshaft lengthened 10" to fit my LJ. I called for a quote, expecting it to be close to the price of a new one because of how much there is on the internet advising people to just buy a new one every time they have any sort of driveline issue. The quote over the phone was $120, and when I took it in 2 weeks later they had it turned around that afternoon, and final price was only $92, balanced and painted. I waited til the next morning to pick it up to give the paint some time to dry

 

[Blackjack]

I agree that most Jeep owners can do an inexpensive rebuild by replacing the U joints and centering ball, but to balance the shaft requires tools that we do not own.
When a shop does a rebuild of the driveshaft after the U joints and centering ball assembly are replaced the driveshaft is balanced.
Shop rebuilds get expensive when the labor is charged to provide their service.

I would not count on it being balanced unless you have requested it. But I will say for those that are getting quoted over $200 for a rebuild it better include a balance or they are charging too much.