Hello!
I started a project yesterday to replace the u-joints on my 2004 TJ Rubicon. I started with the driver's side - the side that clearly had gone wrong. I removed the shaft and the first think I saw was that it was from a junk yard (it has markings on it - then I removed the passenger side and saw the same markings). So I immediately knew a prior owner had an issue and replaced both axle shafts. After struggling a bit on pressing out the u-joint I realized that the outer shaft ears were pressed together which likely lead to the failure of the u-joint. I decided that needs to be replaced. I moved on to the passenger side and got the u-joint out without too much drama, but saw that the inner shaft has a crack. Great.
I've decided that since I drive this a lot off road, getting new would be better. I'm in Florida so very limited rock crawling but a lot of mud. I'm looking to move to chromoly shafts. When researching I see that all the Rubicon Dana 44 shafts being sold have 30 inner and 30 outer splines. The ones out of my jeep have 30 inner and 27 outer. So, what is normal? Do I need to get new wheel bearing and get the 30/30 shafts? I haven't even found sets sold with 30 inner and 27 outer shafts.
Side note: Every wheel bearing I see is also 27 spline so I'm confused why the axles I see are 30/30.
Thanks for any idea.
I started a project yesterday to replace the u-joints on my 2004 TJ Rubicon. I started with the driver's side - the side that clearly had gone wrong. I removed the shaft and the first think I saw was that it was from a junk yard (it has markings on it - then I removed the passenger side and saw the same markings). So I immediately knew a prior owner had an issue and replaced both axle shafts. After struggling a bit on pressing out the u-joint I realized that the outer shaft ears were pressed together which likely lead to the failure of the u-joint. I decided that needs to be replaced. I moved on to the passenger side and got the u-joint out without too much drama, but saw that the inner shaft has a crack. Great.
I've decided that since I drive this a lot off road, getting new would be better. I'm in Florida so very limited rock crawling but a lot of mud. I'm looking to move to chromoly shafts. When researching I see that all the Rubicon Dana 44 shafts being sold have 30 inner and 30 outer splines. The ones out of my jeep have 30 inner and 27 outer. So, what is normal? Do I need to get new wheel bearing and get the 30/30 shafts? I haven't even found sets sold with 30 inner and 27 outer shafts.
Side note: Every wheel bearing I see is also 27 spline so I'm confused why the axles I see are 30/30.
Thanks for any idea.
