Play in passenger u-Joint before and after replacement.

[DougyintheBushies]

I’ve been going through this Jeep since I got it trying to tighten things up. Rebuilt both DS and found a little play in the passenger side axle u-joint so I bought 2 spicer 5-760 . I noticed a knocking noise under load last week so I removed the front driveshaft and still got the noise just not as much.I replaced the passenger axle joint and it was toasted and still got the noise.
I checked the joint again and it still has play(1-2 mm)
I’ve got a spare set of axles and another new joint.
From what I can tell the clips are seated correct but hard to tell while assembled.
What could cause the play?
My unit bearing has no play.
Should I swap the spare in with new joint?
Thanks

 

[TheBoogieman]

Did you replace the driver side u-joint too? I never replace one side of anything.
p.s. I think you stole my Estwing 22 oz hammer. Maybe that's my 28 oz framing hammer.

 

[DougyintheBushies]

Did you replace the driver side u-joint too? I never replace one side of anything.
p.s. I think you stole my Estwing 22 oz hammer. Maybe that's my 28 oz framing hammer.

No, that's what the other new joint was for but since I'm having problems with the passenger joint I thought I might need it.
And Estwing is the only hammer I would buy!

 

[TheBoogieman]

No, that's what the other new joint was for but since I'm having problems with the passenger joint I thought I might need it.
And Estwing is the only hammer I would buy!

I read about fitment issues and some slop when I had to "pay someone" to do mine recently. I'm wondering if Spicer "CHINA" might be a new thing. Mine are good, but the slight shimmy I had before the install is still there.
p.s. Mine were bad enough that I could grab the axle shaft and shake it to feel "play".

 

[DougyintheBushies]

I read about fitment issues and some slop when I had to "pay someone" to do mine recently. I'm wondering if Spicer "CHINA" might be a new thing. Mine are good, but the slight shimmy I had before the install is still there.
p.s. Mine were bad enough that I could grab the axle shaft and shake it to feel "play".

I can grab mine and move it also. Before and after the replacement. I think the lunchbox locker puts stress on the passenger side being that its longer of the 2 shafts but I've never ran into this issue.

 

[TheBoogieman]

I can grab mine and move it also. Before and after the replacement. I think the lunchbox locker puts stress on the passenger side being that its longer of the 2 shafts but I've never ran into this issue.

PM @Irun. tell him I told you to bother him. He's a good guy and knows a ton of stuff.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Are you certain it's not a stretched ear on the axle shaft allowing the movement?

 

[DougyintheBushies]

Are you certain it's not a stretched ear on the axle shaft allowing the movement?

No I'm not sure but it took some good whacks with a hammer to get the old joint out and the new one went in pretty easy. I didn't notice any play in it at all until the next day I grabbed it and wiggled.
Should I put a new joint in my spares and swap them?
I had the cover off a couple weeks ago and everything looked fine inside.
Do these lunchbox locker develop play that can be felt at the joint?

 

[DougyintheBushies]

And it had about the same amount of play when the old joint was in there.

 

[DougyintheBushies]

Must have been a stretched ear on the stub shaft. I wiggled it until I found which shaft had the play and pulled it and swapped just the stub shaft with a spare and reused the u-joint and absolutely no play now. I still hear the clicking or popping under load. I’m assuming it’s just this lunchbox locker.
I haven’t noticed it this loud.
Does anyone recognize this locker?

 

[DougyintheBushies]

Must have been a stretched ear on the stub shaft. I wiggled it until I found which shaft had the play and pulled it and swapped just the stub shaft with a spare and reused the u-joint and absolutely no play now. I still hear the clicking or popping under load. I’m assuming it’s just this lunchbox locker.
I haven’t noticed it this loud.
Does anyone recognize this locker?

View attachment 383132

I just realized you can’t even see it cause of the case