clunking front end

[aaronmichorn]

Been trying to track down the culprit. THought I found it several times. THis weekend after an offroading trip it got worse. I got back under it and found a lot of play in the u-joints in the front axle. The axle is one of four things that I haven't replaced in the last 5 years, so a rebuild is in the plans over the winter.

My question is, is it safe to drive with worn u-joints as long as I am in 2wd, or do I need to park it now and start saving.

 

[Tito]

If your hubs are unlocked and you are in 2wd then that stuff shouldnt be moving when you are driving. Just dont forget about em before the next wheeling trip. I busted a front stub shaft this weekend but disengaged the hubs and put it in 2wd and drove home to swap it out no problem.

 

[aaronmichorn]

they are actually loose in the axle tube. Like the bearings are gone or at least really worn. They clunk inside the tubes when you hit bumps or even jump on the front bumper.

 

[deltarat]

If you can move the joint up and down, the needle bearings in the back of the spindle may be gone.

 

[Tito]

they are actually loose in the axle tube. Like the bearings are gone or at least really worn. They clunk inside the tubes when you hit bumps or even jump on the front bumper.

Can you rock the wheel camberwise?
If it is the bearings then yeah even running 2wd can be bad. Sounds like you need to find a weekend and rip into that sucker and replace the ball joints (probably 30ys old), u-joints, spindle bearings and seals, and wheel bearings and check the fluid.