Ok, time to replace the shaft.

I have at least 1/2" of movement in any direction at the u-joint.
Yes it's dry and redish looking but no dirt/mud = no grease.
It even sounds clunky when I rotate the front wheel by hand.
Not to mention the drive shaft looks bent as well. Just screwed up!
Don't know how it could be bent, guess it's from faulty bearings?

Any installation tips that I need to know, other than bolting it up?
Looks like both diff/trans bearings are good+stable.
I have never replaced a drive shaft yet.

I love this truck, and with 160,000 miles it still runs strong.
Hopefully the new/refurbed shaft comes with grease ports?

Thanks.....
Jeff

 

Just did this in January, you need 6pt 1/2" drive 15mm socket for the 4 front bolts, a second person to keep a foot on the brake to lockup the drivetrain so you can unbolt and eat your Wheaties! There was thread locker on mine and took everything I had to break them free and they fought me the whole way out and that's using a breaker bar! The transfer case end wasn't bad, 8mm. That's assuming of course a 98 Durango is identical to a 2001 in that respect.

 

Very cool, thanks for the insight.
Wheaties kick butt, I will have at least 2 bowls before the repair!!!
~Jeff

 

I don't know what your replacement plans are but I opted for one that uses 2 Universals instead of the CV and U combo that is on the stock one.

Here's a link to where I bought mine:

http://www.riversidegear.com/categor...durango-1.html

It also gives you the grease fittings you desired in your 1st post, one on each Universal and the one in the middle. You won't re-use the 6 8mm original bolts at the transfer case, they include 6 13mm bolts to replace them since they don't need to be as long as the originals.

Hope this helps.

 

The drive shaft on the front goes between the front differential and the transfer case in which they do have U-joints. The Front Half Shafts (CV's) are between the front wheels and the front axle housing.

I am starting to go back to the sealed versions of movable parts including bearings. The problem is with greaseable bearings they can introduce water and other debree's (because they are not SEALED). The only way to get it out is to grease (flush the bearings) them which I don't know about you but I don't get under the truck every time it rains of drive through a puddle of off road in ANY dust.....IMHO

 

Yeah, I already replaced the driveside half shaft.
While under the truck I found the front driveshaft
to be needing replaced as it has excess play/looks bent.

Nope, I really don't want to crawl under the truck after it rains, that would suck!

Thanks for the help guys.