Front end vibration on 06 Rubicon

[Ron Hall]

On one our early jeep trips in colorado, I lost a u joint cap on my front axle and beat the axle up badly. I ordered a set from extreme terrain that came with Spicet 760 joints and installed the drivers side with a new hub. Before leaving on the trip I had installed a pinion seal and had not been able to generate the torque shown of 225 lbs. While the jeep was in the air for the axle we torqued to that spec. Now I have a pronouns vibration above 55. I had my tires balanced twice and retorqued the pinion to 170. The front ujoint is good and I don’t feel roughness turning that front shaft. It is a job to remove that shaft without dropping the skid plate and I am hesitant with out a floorjack. Do you believe the pinion bearing could have been damaged. I don’t feel roughess as I turn the flange with a wheel jacked up. Any theories ?

 

[AndyG]

Its not too bad to drop it- you can just do the differential end and tape the caps and wire or zip tie it up to test drive- just dont engage 4WD whatever you do.

Also does it vibrate on decel- I had a loose pinion nut once.

 

[Ron Hall]

Its not too bad to drop it- you can just do the differential end and tape the caps and wire or zip tie it up to test drive- just dont engage 4WD whatever you do.

Also does it vibrate on decel- I had a loose pinion nut once.

The skid plate is best handled by the old man on a floor jack not in this rv park gravel. I have some heavy duty zip tires that are rate at 180 lbs each I will put two or three on to test it. If it is the problem, I will get the ds

Its not too bad to drop it- you can just do the differential end and tape the caps and wire or zip tie it up to test drive- just dont engage 4WD whatever you do.

Also does it vibrate on decel- I had a loose pinion nut once.

Andy thanks for the encouragement. The vibration iwas othe front drive shaft. Harbor freight makes some really hd. Zips with a coat hanger as backup. I did not have to completely drop the skid. Also found rear mount broken while removing shaft Thanks again.

 

[JKP]

If you have a stock Rubicon, you can pull the front shaft without dropping anything. Position the front shaft so you can reach 2 of the tcase bolts. Remove the shaft from the front diff and rotate 180 deg and place it back in the yoke to hold it still, no need to bolt it in. Remove the other 2 tcase bolts and remove shaft.

Just did this to lube my centering ball.

 

[Ron Hall]

If you have a stock Rubicon, you can pull the front shaft without dropping anything. Position the front shaft so you can reach 2 of the tcase bolts. Remove the shaft from the front diff and rotate 180 deg and place it back in the yoke to hold it still, no need to bolt it in. Remove the other 2 tcase bolts and remove shaft.

Just did this to lube my centering ball.

Maybe for you. I found the transmission mount broken and some good lube opportunities by letting it down.