[cory05tj]

i posted here the other day about a clicking noise i was hearing and i was getting a lot of vibration. narrowed it down to the u-joint on the front of the rear driveshaft. pulled the shaft out yesterday and went ahead and changed both u-joints on it. the jeep is running smoother than it ever has...EXCEPT the last 10 feet or so when i stop i get a horrible rumble that i think i coming from the rear. it wasnt doing it before the u-joint went bad so is it possible that the bad joints caused something else to get messed up? anything i can check? any help is much appreciated. cant afford a mechanic.:nonono:

 

[cory05tj]

anyone?

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Did you get the u-joints seated properly so they are free to move? It's not easy to get them seated properly so they aren't binding.

 

[baker3]

Is there anything that can ensure a proper seating? I installed my front shaft a couple weeks ago and I have vibration.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

A few solid whacks on both sides of the yoke with a BFH before installing the driveshaft can help seat the bearing caps outward against the clips to allow the u-joints to move freely. Pressing the bearing caps into the yoke often gets them seated too tightly against against the trunion (u-joint body).

 

[baker3]

Ill be breaking out Mjolnir!!! Lets see who knows what that is lol

 

[cory05tj]

i'll have to try that tomorrow. hopefully going to work and back doesnt ruin the new joints i just put in

 

[cory05tj]

ok i think i may have found the culprit. not too sure. i removed the front driveshaft at the differential and tied it up out of the way and went for a spin. still got the vibration. put it back on. crawled to the rear of the jeep and decided to grab and yank everything i can get my hands on and see if theres any play. the rear sway bar (?) i believe is what i had my hands on and it was wiggling like no other. the bushings appear to be worn. would that cause the vibrations im getting? and are they easy to change?

 

[Thomas302]

The swaybar is the skinny bar that runs from one side to the other and connects to the end links and bolts to the front of the axle. I dont think that would cause a vibration. that track bar the bigger bar and it is on top of the axle and connects behind the ds upper contol arm. A worn out bushing in that could possible cause a vibration.

 

[cory05tj]

its def. the sway bar i had my hands on earlier then. do you think the trackbar would cause a rumbling vibration only at speeds of 10mph or less? thats the only time i get any vibration. its exactly like rolling up to every stop sign/light and the last 15 feet before you stop you're driving on rumble strips like the ones on the sides of the highway.

 

[Thomas302]

Sounds dumb but maybe you can remove the rear driveshaft and plug the transfercase so you dont lose fluid, unless you have a SYE and then you are good. Drive it in 4wd with just the front axle pulling. If it goes away you know it was the rear driveshaft. Not sure if its the best idea but thats what I would do.

 

[cory05tj]

i'll have to try it tomorrow after work. i did that with the front already and i had the rear out when i put both new u-joints in it. it was vibrating just like this with the bad joints. it was clicking then also. would the bad joints from before have been able to totally ruin the driveshaft? or it that out of the question?

 

[DevilDogDoc]

Sounds dumb but maybe you can remove the rear driveshaft and plug the transfercase so you dont lose fluid, unless you have a SYE and then you are good. Drive it in 4wd with just the front axle pulling. If it goes away you know it was the rear driveshaft. Not sure if its the best idea but thats what I would do.

You can pull the shaft on the rear and drive forever like that. There is no way for fluid to leak from the tailshaft on TJ's, that was a YJ thing.

 

[SeVeReDiStOrTiOn]

its def. the sway bar i had my hands on earlier then. do you think the trackbar would cause a rumbling vibration only at speeds of 10mph or less? thats the only time i get any vibration. its exactly like rolling up to every stop sign/light and the last 15 feet before you stop you're driving on rumble strips like the ones on the sides of the highway.

That's the rear shaft u-joints for sure...mine did the same thing. Do what jerry said, remove the shaft and give the yoke ears a whack from the inside...they should move freely with little resistance. When I installed the rear shaft to diff u-joint it was stiff as all hell. I gave it a few whacks and it loosened up nicely...night and day.

 

[cory05tj]

what are the yoke ears? those u-joints are brand new...are you just saying that they may be too tight in there and not spinning freely?

 

[ShannonT]

I'm watching this.. will be replacing u-joints shortly and want to do it right.

 

[cory05tj]

ok guys, the rear drive shaft is completely out of the jeep. left it home and went for a spin. the vibration is still there, no change at all. i know for sure the rear sway bar bushings are shot, but if thats not whats causing it..what else can i check?

 

[cory05tj]

also, how important is the metal ring on the output shaft boot? i've been fighting that thing for the last 20 minutes

 

[DevilDogDoc]

I cut mine off and used a ziptie in its place when I pulled mine off. Just check it now and again and make sure it's greased in there.

 

[cory05tj]

i guess i'll have to do the same thing. i'm tired of that damn ring. maybe i'll get a big hose clamp and stick it on there. but anyhow, is there anything else to consider that could be causing this rumbling. its driving me nuts and i want to get it taken care of before it gets too cold outside haha