How do i get the front unIVERSAL JOINT OFF A 81 JEEP

Hi Terez,here's a repair guide from Autozone site,join their site,it's free,then you can use all their repair guides like me,I will send you 2 links for your CV joint replacement guide,here's the first one. Repair Guides Front Drive Axle Halfshafts AutoZone com Here's the second link. Repair Guides Front Drive Axle Cv joints AutoZone com Here's another link to your locking hubs. Repair Guides Front Drive Axle Locking Hubs AutoZone com

is it on the front driveshaft or axles

Have you checked the flange nuts on front and rear axles where the propshafts join diff. unit?

it could be the hubs are not all the way engaged or disengaged but most likely it's your universal joint between hub and axle

Front CV joint noise.

There is a possibility the axel U-joint is binding, this will put side load on the hubs and keep them from working properly. Turn the steering wheel either far right or left and with front of truck off the ground or the front end disengaged, see if the axel shafts turn free, both sides. If there is binding the U-joint(s) will have to be replaced.

? are they manual locking hubs where you have to get out and lock them? if not you may have a vacuum leak to your actuaters .my spelling is terrible.another ? is the clunking sound only when you put in 4wheel or is it in 2 wheel also.if so you also may have a bad universal joint either in the front drive axle or the rear drive axle.

You may have a bad c/v or universal joint at the end of that front axle. If it's a c/v joint, the boot will be torn. If you have a universal joint, it will appear rusted (powdered rust showing around the dust seals) or will be loose when the wheel is off the ground and "unloaded". If they check out as good, you could have a bad hub bearing or a brake problem...you will need to take it apart and give it a good look over.

betting on a front universal joint at the wheel seized

Hello scotch1812, those of us that still enjoy the square headlights have to stick together! The front axle in our YJ's are dana 30 with a high pinion! The high pinion make the ring and pinion spin in a reverse rotation from the dana 30 found in CJ and TJ Jeeps. When Chrysler designed the YJ front axle, they removed the manual hubs like those found in CJ models and installed a vacuum disconnect on the passenger side axle shaft. The passenger side axle shaft is 2 piece with a sleeve that is moved into place to connect the 2 pieces of axle shaft when you shift the transfer case into 4 wheel drive. This is done via a vacuum module mounted on the axle housing. If your module diaphram goes bad you have no 4WD! If your vacuum hose comes off of the module or breaks you have no 4WD. Now when your transfer case is in 2WD the front driveshaft does not turn. The vacuum disconnect allows this to happen. As for the hubs, they are simply hubs with sealed bearings and a universal joint to allow your front wheels to turn left and right. If you hear the banging noise in 2WD it could be a bad universal joint in one of your axle shafts.

Now if you are hearing the banging noise only when you are in 4WD there could be a number of reasons. You could have a broken axle shaft or a bad bearing in your ring and pinion. Your front driveshaft could be bent or at least not straight. I would start with the driveshaft. Just lay under the Jeep (Not running! With emergency brake set!) and spin the front driveshaft. If it spins true and doesn't have an out of round rotation we can rule that out! Also, grab it and push it and pull it to check to see if your universal joints in the drive shaft are gor and tight! They can make a grinding noise or popping noise if they are bad!

Try these and let me know what you find! We will find your problem!

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