My 1996 sovereign has just passed its annual MOT test but with a few advisories. The most significant is movement in the rear wheel due to the universal joints in the drive shafts! There are grease nipples available and I intend to pump in grease. My question is how difficult is it to change the UJ,s and would it be advisable to do both sides?

 

If a u-joint is worn to the point where there is free play no amount of grease will help. It's junk.

Personally, no, I would not arbitrarily replace the UJs on both shafts. In fact I wouldn't even arbitrarily replace both UJs on one shaft. Once the shaft is off the car is takes two seconds to tell if the UJs are bad so there's no sense in replacing a good one.....especally since many replacments are lower quality than what Jaguar originally installed.

And DO make sure the wheel movment isn't coming from a wheel bearing or worn hub fulcrums.

Cheers
DD

 

I think I need a new grease-gun nipple, maybe a 90 deg? Those things are a total (bitter ex-wife) to grease - I swear I end up squirting 3x as much grease alongside the zerk as I actually get into the fitting and consequently into the u-joint!!!

 

Sometimes you have to turn the shaft to get your grease gun on the nipple. Or, sometimes if the wheels are off the ground the free-hanging shafts drop to an angle where access to the nipples is impossible

Cheers
DD

 

I agree with all of Doug's suggestions but would add that it might be worth checking the differential output shafts. The bearings can fail/wear out and cause in/out movement of the wheel.

 

Whilst the car was still on the ramp I went under it with the tester. Whilst there was slight movement at the wheel when rocked(wheel held top and bottom) he was able to eliminate most by pushing on the outboard UJ. The inboard UJ did not seem to make much difference. I guess the outboard is the one to attack first - when and if ever it stops raining. Thanks for advice.

 

Before you go too far into panic mode, remember it's only an 'advisory'.

Graham

 

Hadn't considered that, Doug. I've always (well, at least ever since my first attempt) done 'em with both rear tires off the ground (or car) during tire rotation, so it is easy to rotate both sides. May have to add another jack in to raise the tire on the affected side...

 

All this talk about Jaguars, nipples and grease excites me.