Front Dshaft rebuild options?

[BDaugherty]

As a follow up to my earlier post about being able to grease the ballstud in the CV of my front driveshaft:



I have a clunking noise that I suspect is coming from the 250K mile non-greaseable CV in my front driveshaft. The Ujoints themselves are fine and I just replaced one loose front axle Ujoint, but the noise and vibration is still there. A brief check online found reman shaft assemblies for about $270 and new for about $470. My question is, has anyone rebuilt their own front driveshaft? I've put new Ujoints in plenty of them, but I've never had good luck with the ball and socket. I can pick up new Ujoints pretty much anywhere, but I'm not so sure about the ball and socket kit. What's the best/cheapest option.

This weekend I will pull the shaft out for closer inspection and to drive the truck without it to make sure that that's what it is. I just wanted to know going into it what everyone else has done. Thanks in advance.

 

[jhenderson]

Just did mine 3 weeks ago. It was about 35 bucks for the centering kit. It took about 1 1/2 hours , 3 joints and centering kit, shaft out to shaft in. I had a friend help. Not doing it all the time, it took 4 hands. I replaced the whole shaft last time ( 150,000 miles) because the centering kit was not available at the time.

 

[mwilson]

Part Numbers

Just did mine 3 weeks ago. It was about 35 bucks for the centering kit. It took about 1 1/2 hours , 3 joints and centering kit, shaft out to shaft in. I had a friend help. Not doing it all the time, it took 4 hands. I replaced the whole shaft last time ( 150,000 miles) because the centering kit was not available at the time.

Who had the centering kit if you don't mind me asking???



Also, if you still have the part number could you post it as this is going to asked more and more as these 3rd Gens age.



Thanks,

Mike.

 

[JFought]

i paid around $230 to have it fully rebuilt, and balanced.

 

[jhenderson]

I got caught on a Sunday, so I had to settle for Precision joints and centering kit. I would have prefered NEAPCO. Centering kit : 617.

 

[BDaugherty]

I found the center kit for $23you at rock auto, but I haven't found the Ujoints yet. Where did you find yours? Were all 3 the the same size?

 

[jhenderson]

I think the front joint is different than the 2 in the Cardin joint. The Cardin joint number is 331 at NAPA.

 

[BDaugherty]

I saw on quad4x4 that 2 different sized ujoints have been used in the CVs. Do you know if the 331 is a 1 1/16" or 1 3/16" diameter cap? Also, was there anything tricky to rebuilding the center ball stud and spring? Last question, is the CV a Spicer 1330 size?

 

[jhenderson]

I can't say about cap diameter or Spicer designation. There is nothing very tricky, just a handful. Easier with 4 hands.

 

[jp_mco@yahoo.com]

Is ther a way to eliminate this hard to grease fitting in
the cv joint?

 

[ssanders60]

Several years ago I bought a new drive shaft and dealer installed it, $620. The problem was in the cv joint, rubber ball I guess, had to
convince the dealer it was not the tires, etc.