My xjs has a lot of vibration. I jacked it up and found the left rear axle has alot of play. It looks like the play is coming from the inboard u joint. Anyone know what it will take to r and r the u joint?

Thx

 

 

Remove the big nut holding the axle to the hub. With any luck the axle splines are not too badly stuck in the hub. Sometimes the axle will easily disengage, sometimes you need to puller. Anyhow, with the axle out the hub will just flop down. Observe carefully the placement of shims and spacers which establish the end float of the axle !!!!

On the inboard side of the axle remove the four locknuts that hold the axle to the differential. There might be some shims between the axle flange and the brake rotor. Don't lose them...they are the camber adjustment shims.

With both ends you can remove the axle and plop it on your workbench.

Actual u-joint removal and replacement is conventional.

Other sources of play are the hub bearings and the differential output shaft bearings.

Cheers
DD

 

Thanks Doug for the excellent advice. Go the hub off and the 4 nuts off the rotor, but can't get the axle and u joints out of the IRS assembly. Any way to do this without removing a shock absorber?

I'm also thinking of replacing the brake rotor, since it's a little scored. Any good sources to get a replacement rotor?

Thanks again for the great info.

 

I fogotted about the shocks thing, sorry. Only take a few minutes to remove. Don't loose the little bushing that goes in the top eyelet !


Motorcars Ltd should have rotors at a good price. Remiving the caliper so the rotor can be replacd isn't fun . You might wanna do both at once and get the misery over and done with. You'll need to elevate the car waaaayyyyy up so the lower control arms can swing down far enough to get the brake rotor out. Be careful. It's much easier and safer if you just drop the entire subframe

Cheers
DD