Repair-It

I cleaned out the burnt/caked grease from the front CV and reassembled. Due to the damage to the center "star" on a couple of the ball pockets, I didn't think it would limp through beyond getting a new driveshaft. After putting it all back together it was almost undriveable due to the vibration. I went to the gas station and back and it's now parked until I can get a new driveshaft.

Based on the Youtube Videos, I think I'm convinced that the USA Standard Gear stuff is US made and backed by Randy's ring and pinion, so I think I'm going to give it a shot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwxyn4LNRH0

I ordered yesterday and it took until this afternoon to show "shipped" with a tracking number. No FEDEX delivery estimate yet, but it shipped out of Randy's Fresno CA warehouse. RockAuto estimate was that I'd have it by Tuesday, hopefully they do a little better.

Early this morning Fedex forecast Friday delivery, then later this morning they show Saturday delivery. Looks like I won't be able to install until Monday anyway. So I guess I lost 8 days of Jeep use w/ no driveshaft.

Driveshaft arrived today and I installed. Felt very smooth up to about 35 mph or so, smoother than ever and got rid of the heavy-accel vibration. Above about 40 mph some I think driveshaft resonance set up very noticeably and vibrated to about 65 or so. Then it smoothed out, and 50-65 roll up/down is fine, drives OK otherwise. Repeatable... So I emailed USA Standard Gear that I intend to return it to RockAuto for a Mopar replacement but that I emailed them 1) if they had any questions on symptoms for the unit I was returning, and 2) if they had any higher quality replacements they could offer.

We'll see what they say, but I would some day like to have my jeep back... I guess I can drive it to work Thursday, 100 miles each way, hoping that I don't have to slow down much?

Drove the kids to school and got on the highway this morning. Seems fine now. Ground up particle during break-in one of the CVs? Not encouraging…

Did another drive - seems fine?

Yeah there aren't many scenarios where bearings have vibration and then don't and the conclusion is "that'll probably be fine forever."

Unless it was something rubber seating in somehow.

I think it would be the CV joints and not the carrier bearing.

106 mile long drive to Fitchburg MA on the highway and seemed fine the whole way. Weird.

Drive back was fine also, vibration during heavy accel appears to be gone. I guess I'll call it fixed and do a partial visual check when I'm in for the next oil change in about 4k miles.