Stock LJ has vibes

[TJ Jake]

My LJ has been getting drivetrain vibes over the past month. At first it would only vibe if I had a heavy load in the back, but then it started to just do it unloaded between 30-40 and again at 55. I took the rear driveshaft out, replaced the ujoints, torqued the pinion nut to make sure it wasn't loose, and drove around in FWD to make sure it wasn't anything else. Well, the vibes dissapeared until I put the rear driveshaft in, then it got much worse. At 60 it sounds like I'm in a subwoofer at a concert. Is it possible I put the ujoints in wrong? Or does anyone else have any other ideas?

[RAT]

My LJ has been getting drivetrain vibes over the past month. At first it would only vibe if I had a heavy load in the back, but then it started to just do it unloaded between 30-40 and again at 55. I took the rear driveshaft out, replaced the ujoints, torqued the pinion nut to make sure it wasn't loose, and drove around in FWD to make sure it wasn't anything else. Well, the vibes dissapeared until I put the rear driveshaft in, then it got much worse. At 60 it sounds like I'm in a subwoofer at a concert. Is it possible I put the ujoints in wrong? Or does anyone else have any other ideas?

Does it have a CV? THe cardon is probably going bad. Seems to be a lot of this going around lately.

[TJ Jake]

Nope, just the traditional 2 u-joint driveshaft.

[RAT]

Nope, just the traditional 2 u-joint driveshaft.

Well, if it had balancing wieght added you might have thrown one. Or it might be bent but I think you would know if you hit something. No lift kit, I take it?

[TJ Jake]

Yep, no lift. And it looks like there's no weights knocked off and it's nice solid rust color, no scrapes. One thing that bugged me with putting the new u joints on is that they were really stiff. I've never done u joints, so it that normal?

[RAT]

Yep, no lift. And it looks like there's no weights knocked off and it's nice solid rust color, no scrapes. One thing that bugged me with putting the new u joints on is that they were really stiff. I've never done u joints, so it that normal?

New U joints when installed correctly should have some resistance to movement, but should not be so hard that you can't do it by hand. If you press the caps in too far the ujoint will be very tight. You can see a gap between the E clip retainer and the top of the cap if that is the case.

[TJ Jake]

Well this is embarassing, i didn't put the joints on the axle yoke right. You know the little tabs the caps are supposed to be in between? Well, it was offset to where one side was on top of the tabs. Now I know next time I do them, make sure I have enough lite to catch that stuff :oops:

[1 Bad F N Z]

Well this is embarassing, i didn't put the joints on the axle yoke right. You know the little tabs the caps are supposed to be in between? Well, it was offset to where one side was on top of the tabs. Now I know next time I do them, make sure I have enough lite to catch that stuff :oops:

That can make a difference. However you are not the first. Kevin.