I bought my YJ on X-mas Eve. It is my first 4X4. I drove it home 250 miles. The only things I noticed unusual was a single hard clank, early in the trip when I was really pushing the 2.5L, trying to get up to speed in the passing gear. There was no more clanking the rest of the way, but I stayed out of passing gear. Also, I felt a lot of sway, when coming off the accelerator or when braking. I attributed that to my inexperience with 33's on a 4" lift. When confirming the sway bar is connected, some off-roading buddies, that I'd shared the experience with, suggested there could be a bad/going bad U-joint.
After having a cold, getting a tag and insurance, replacing some hard top hardware, and fixing my door locks, yesterday, the wife and I were finally ready to get ridin'. We went and filled up the tank. Came home and added some Seafoam. Then, headed for a nearby wildlife drive. I had tried shifting the transfer case, previously, in my driveway, without issue. But, this was to be our first real test of the 4WD.
I checked, in another thread, that it was okay to shift the t-case from 2H to 4H on the fly. So, as soon as I hit the hard-packed dirt/gravel road, going 10-15mph, I pulled it down to 4H. About 75 yards after that the U-joint, between the t-case and front driveshaft, let go. The driveshaft spun freely, denting the tranny pan and bending the shaft, tearing loose the transmission and transfer case linkages, and destroying my E-brake cable. I was able to shift the tranny and t-case to Neutral, from underneath, and get the rig started again. When I did, I found transmission fluid bleeding out around the tranny pan. I'm hoping the impact just killed the gasket and it isn't something more serious. I, also, found that I now have no brakes at all. I hope that is just associated with the E-brake.
I'm not sure how to proceed, now. I don't know if I caused this or if it was just a bad U-joint? Maybe something in the tranny, t-case, or front axel locked up? Should I fix the parts I know are broken and give it another go? Or, should I take it to my local "Jeep specialist" for pro repair/inspection? Part it out?
Anyway, I will try to take some pictures of the carnage, and post them up, today. All help and input is appreciated.
After having a cold, getting a tag and insurance, replacing some hard top hardware, and fixing my door locks, yesterday, the wife and I were finally ready to get ridin'. We went and filled up the tank. Came home and added some Seafoam. Then, headed for a nearby wildlife drive. I had tried shifting the transfer case, previously, in my driveway, without issue. But, this was to be our first real test of the 4WD.
I checked, in another thread, that it was okay to shift the t-case from 2H to 4H on the fly. So, as soon as I hit the hard-packed dirt/gravel road, going 10-15mph, I pulled it down to 4H. About 75 yards after that the U-joint, between the t-case and front driveshaft, let go. The driveshaft spun freely, denting the tranny pan and bending the shaft, tearing loose the transmission and transfer case linkages, and destroying my E-brake cable. I was able to shift the tranny and t-case to Neutral, from underneath, and get the rig started again. When I did, I found transmission fluid bleeding out around the tranny pan. I'm hoping the impact just killed the gasket and it isn't something more serious. I, also, found that I now have no brakes at all. I hope that is just associated with the E-brake.
I'm not sure how to proceed, now. I don't know if I caused this or if it was just a bad U-joint? Maybe something in the tranny, t-case, or front axel locked up? Should I fix the parts I know are broken and give it another go? Or, should I take it to my local "Jeep specialist" for pro repair/inspection? Part it out?
Anyway, I will try to take some pictures of the carnage, and post them up, today. All help and input is appreciated.