broken ujoint nightmare
Rock Crawling
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 417
Likes: 41
RE: broken ujoint nightmare
The double cardon joint (the one that usually fails) requires two u-joints ($15 each) and a centering ball joint (in between the two u-joints, at about $27). The other end of the front driveshaft has one u-joint only, if you want to replace it while the driveshaft is off the truck. The single u-joint has a grease zerk already, and if regularly serviced, should be okay(barring very high mileage). I replaced my own u-joints, however it's a little tricky for a novice mechanic. The removal of the old centering ball is a bit of a bother(it's pressed in), and the u-joint re-assembly (without misplacing any of the needle bearings) is moderately tricky.
Recovery Vehicle
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,019
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco, CA.
RE: broken ujoint nightmare
I sold my wheel locks last night and asked the owner about his drive shaft. We crawled underneath and all of the u-joints (for the front at least) were sealed. He has an '02 D2 with about 50K. It was fun to show him around his truck and compare it to mine and see the differences. I pointed him towards this board and Cerrone's to get the info on a rebuilt d/s. Hope to see him on here. Hi Mark!!
Thread Starter
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4wd Low
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
RE: broken ujoint nightmare
i get that they save money, i own a business, it is all about the bottom line. but how much money has the average (uninformed) consumer dumped into this flaw? i'm sure we have spent more than they have saved.. at what point does LR send out a service bulletin or a recall notice? isn't this dangerous? i want to put little flyers on the windows of every disco i see that says, "change your front u joint while its still a 23.00 (?!) fix and not a 3000.00 plus repair!"
my cousins disco 2 front u joint failed also and he said it exploded on the highway like shrapnel. i've read the driveshaft could go into the passengers compartment or catapult a car...do you think that is true?
i am glad we are all safe and that my sad story is reminding you to lube it, change it, avoid it, whatever!!
my cousins disco 2 front u joint failed also and he said it exploded on the highway like shrapnel. i've read the driveshaft could go into the passengers compartment or catapult a car...do you think that is true?
i am glad we are all safe and that my sad story is reminding you to lube it, change it, avoid it, whatever!!
TReK
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,306
Likes: 3
From: Woodstock, GA
RE: broken ujoint nightmare
doomed, I have also heard that 'catapult scenario'. I think they even did a show about it on mythbusters. If I recall correctly they weren't able to get it to catapult under normal conditions. Anybody remember?
Mudding
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 210
Likes: 1
From: Northern Kentucky
RE: broken ujoint nightmare
ORIGINAL: doomed
i get that they save money, i own a business, it is all about the bottom line. but how much money has the average (uninformed) consumer dumped into this flaw? i'm sure we have spent more than they have saved.. at what point does LR send out a service bulletin or a recall notice? isn't this dangerous? i want to put little flyers on the windows of every disco i see that says, "change your front u joint while its still a 23.00 (?!) fix and not a 3000.00 plus repair!"
my cousins disco 2 front u joint failed also and he said it exploded on the highway like shrapnel. i've read the driveshaft could go into the passengers compartment or catapult a car...do you think that is true?
i am glad we are all safe and that my sad story is reminding you to lube it, change it, avoid it, whatever!!
i get that they save money, i own a business, it is all about the bottom line. but how much money has the average (uninformed) consumer dumped into this flaw? i'm sure we have spent more than they have saved.. at what point does LR send out a service bulletin or a recall notice? isn't this dangerous? i want to put little flyers on the windows of every disco i see that says, "change your front u joint while its still a 23.00 (?!) fix and not a 3000.00 plus repair!"
my cousins disco 2 front u joint failed also and he said it exploded on the highway like shrapnel. i've read the driveshaft could go into the passengers compartment or catapult a car...do you think that is true?
i am glad we are all safe and that my sad story is reminding you to lube it, change it, avoid it, whatever!!
Recovery Vehicle
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,019
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco, CA.
RE: broken ujoint nightmare
If the front d/sfails at the double cardon you won't need to worry about it catapulting the truck. You would have to be driving in reverse or have it fail at the diff for any catapulting action.
8th Gear
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From:
RE: broken ujoint nightmare
I have read success stories on other forums that you insurance company "might" pick it up if you have full coverage. Oddly enough it seems my insurance co. would consider it. If they tell you, "sorry that's normal wear and tear" don't buy it. Complain, Complain, complain, and let them know that a u-joint exploding is not normal wear and tear with a regularly serviced vehicle...
TReK
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,111
Likes: 2
From: Dallas TX
RE: broken ujoint nightmare
ORIGINAL: brian4d
I have read success stories on other forums that you insurance company "might" pick it up if you have full coverage. Oddly enough it seems my insurance co. would consider it. If they tell you, "sorry that's normal wear and tear" don't buy it. Complain, Complain, complain, and let them know that a u-joint exploding is not normal wear and tear with a regularly serviced vehicle...
I have read success stories on other forums that you insurance company "might" pick it up if you have full coverage. Oddly enough it seems my insurance co. would consider it. If they tell you, "sorry that's normal wear and tear" don't buy it. Complain, Complain, complain, and let them know that a u-joint exploding is not normal wear and tear with a regularly serviced vehicle...
At 101000 miles I think someone would be hard pressed to say that its not normal wear and tear.
They may have better luck saying that the service place should have seen it.