Dana 30 popping

[kook911]

When I put the TC into 4hi I get a grinding or popping noise from the front axle when I turn the wheel left or right.  Going straight I don't hear the noise and in 2wd I don't hear the noise at all.  From what I can tell and researched is my u joints on the front axle is/are going bad.  I read the write ups on how to replace them and I don't know if this is over my skill level or not.  I have swapped out motors, trans, rebuilt drums brakes, etc but never touched a axle shaft.  I have a couple of shops quoting me $200 to get the job done.  So my question is the popping noise I hear the u joints and is the price reasonable?   Also I know for sure that it is not the front drive shaft as I just got it rebuilt from the driveshaft shop. 

[Dzimm]

You will get popping and hopping when turning hard in 4wd.  That's driveline bind due to the front and rear trying to turn at the same rate but going different distances.  The question is, how tight of a turn are you making in 4wd when it happens? 

[Marine1Texas]

yes in Part Time 4wd which most have, all 4 tires are trying to turn the exact same ratio and is tied together. When you turn the tire on the inside of the turn is wanting to go the same speed as outside, so you are getting skipping and you get binding on the joints that drive on the front.

 

Unless your in slippery I do not recommend using 4wd, also I don't when you have to do a full tire turn lock. This adds all the strain to those u joints that drive front tires.

 

I have a Full Time system that allows me to drive in 4wd all the time. I even get small pops in turning sharp. I my self leave it in 2wd all the time, unless I need the traction, at that point I go to 2wd low a mod to trasfercase before I try 4wd .

[Jeep Driver]

7 hours ago, kook911 said:

When I put the TC into 4hi I get a grinding or popping noise from the front axle when I turn the wheel left or right.  Going straight I don't hear the noise and in 2wd I don't hear the noise at all.  From what I can tell and researched is my u joints on the front axle is/are going bad.  I read the write ups on how to replace them and I don't know if this is over my skill level or not.  I have swapped out motors, trans, rebuilt drums brakes, etc but never touched a axle shaft.  I have a couple of shops quoting me $200 to get the job done.  So my question is the popping noise I hear the u joints and is the price reasonable?   Also I know for sure that it is not the front drive shaft as I just got it rebuilt from the driveshaft shop. 

If you've done that, you can change out a ujoint. 

 

Or, you can get a pair of ZJ CV shafts for about $67 each at Autozone and be done with it.  

 

Ujoints will take you 2-3 hours for the first time, remove wheels, brakes, unit bearings, shaft, replace. Jack up one side at a time, jack it up fairly high, and you won't lose any gear oil. 

 

$200 for a shop? yeah, I think that's fair. 

 

 

 

Mine do not pop at all, under any circumstances.

 

 

Don't rule out TC chain slipping, unless  you know for certain. 

[kook911]

2 hours ago, Dzimm said:

You will get popping and hopping when turning hard in 4wd.  That's driveline bind due to the front and rear trying to turn at the same rate but going different distances.  The question is, how tight of a turn are you making in 4wd when it happens? 

When turning it's a light turn nothing sharp. 

[kook911]

45 minutes ago, Jeep Driver said:

If you've done that, you can change out a ujoint. 

 

Or, you can get a pair of ZJ CV shafts for about $67 each at Autozone and be done with it.  

 

Ujoints will take you 2-3 hours for the first time, remove wheels, brakes, unit bearings, shaft, replace. Jack up one side at a time, jack it up fairly high, and you won't lose any gear oil. 

 

$200 for a shop? yeah, I think that's fair. 

 

 

 

Mine do not pop at all, under any circumstances.

 

 

Don't rule out TC chain slipping, unless  you know for certain. 

You got a part number for the Zj. shafts?  I did drain the tc fluid to make sure I didn't see any glitter and was good with that. Chain didn't feel loose when I looked in the hole. 

[Jeep Driver]

10 hours ago, kook911 said:

You got a part number for the Zj. shafts?  I did drain the tc fluid to make sure I didn't see any glitter and was good with that. Chain didn't feel loose when I looked in the hole. 

No, I don't'. 

 

98 ZJ IIRC