4wd front U-joints binding, dry, clacking, causing wheel jerk? , try this; (It works). 1. Go to an empty parking lot with a full can of penetrating oil, turn your wheels to lock, spray joints, go in a circle spray etc etc etc, change directions repeat, repeat, repeat. or 2. Tear a 1' strip of old towel 1" wide, soak it in ATF, run them through you joints and tie the ends so they don't come out and drive like that for a couple days and start by making some tight turns.

My joints were creaking, jerking the wheel big time, etc, 2 years ago and after rejuvenating them with this fix (just took the first one but was slightly better after fix # 2) they have been like new ever since.

 

Reps for the tip!

Stewart

 

Thanks Stewart.

 

Def keep that in mind. Thanks

 

Excellent tip! I was just contemplating how to do the very same thing!

 

No offense man but if you think about a u-joint and it's design, this doesn't make any sense. How does the oil makes it way past the seals?? If perchance it does make it's way past the seals, the same way in is the same way out. If the joint is binding, the needle bearings are more than likely toasted. Time to change it.

 

Agreed.

And I would add that Penetrating oil and ATF would just dissolve what little grease was left on the probably toasted needle bearings.

 

Not true, and why is mine acting like new afer 2 years? The light oil makes it's way into the dried grease that is still in there and rejuvenates it. Those joints rarely wear out because they get about a tenth of the action of the rear joint but they do dry out which is the demise of them. I didn't just write my fix because I had a weird dream and woke up with the idea.

 

That's not true either. You guys knock it without trying it and you leave a little yellow guy shaking his head. The light oil adds to the dried grease and rejuvenates it which gives the needles which are still in good shape but dry a new life.

 

Sorry Brent, but this trick didn't work for me.

 

Worked for me 2 years ago and still working. Maybe you didn't do it right, did you try both methods? If you wait too long nothing will help because the grease has dried to the point where the needles finally wore out and broke up. Also, you can't just give it a shot of oil and do a full circle, you have to work with it about 20 minutes but it sure beat putting new ones in for me. Those joints never wear out with good grease in them because they only get probably a fiftieth of the action of the rear ones but they do dry out and don't require much lube to work well but they won't tolerate being dry for a long time with a lot of action on them.

 

Whatever works for you man.

 

Yea, don't try it....just put new ones in.

 

Probably because you have 2 wheel drive.

 

Dreamkiller...

I see you looked at your rep. LOL