If I jack up both front tires of my cherokee, apply the parking brake and
put the auto-trans in neutral and leave the xfer case in 4WD will I be able
to freely rotate the front driveshaft so I can get to all the zerk grease
fittings?

Also, what's the double cardan joint ball for? In looking at the exploded
diagram of the double cardan joint in the front driveshaft (right next to
the xfer case) there is a ball fitting that looks like its got a grease
fitting. What I'm wondering is why you need this spring-ball at all. If the
spiders are handling all the load from transferring power from the
driveshaft through the double cardan joint then what is the point of the
ball that goes between the spider and the center yoke in the double cardan
joint?

--
there is no .sig

 

Hi Doug,
Sounds safer than letting the wife run you over. You'll need a
grease needle to get the center bearing:
http://www.----------.com/cvZerk.jpg Without that centering bearing the
constant velocity universal joints would wobble all over the place:
http://www.----------.com/CVJoint.jpg
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:--------------------
Doug wrote:
>
> If I jack up both front tires of my cherokee, apply the parking brake and
> put the auto-trans in neutral and leave the xfer case in 4WD will I be able
> to freely rotate the front driveshaft so I can get to all the zerk grease
> fittings?
>
> Also, what's the double cardan joint ball for? In looking at the exploded
> diagram of the double cardan joint in the front driveshaft (right next to
> the xfer case) there is a ball fitting that looks like its got a grease
> fitting. What I'm wondering is why you need this spring-ball at all. If the
> spiders are handling all the load from transferring power from the
> driveshaft through the double cardan joint then what is the point of the
> ball that goes between the spider and the center yoke in the double cardan
> joint?
>
> --
> there is no .sig

 

Hi Doug,
Sounds safer than letting the wife run you over. You'll need a
grease needle to get the center bearing:
http://www.----------.com/cvZerk.jpg Without that centering bearing the
constant velocity universal joints would wobble all over the place:
http://www.----------.com/CVJoint.jpg
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:--------------------
Doug wrote:
>
> If I jack up both front tires of my cherokee, apply the parking brake and
> put the auto-trans in neutral and leave the xfer case in 4WD will I be able
> to freely rotate the front driveshaft so I can get to all the zerk grease
> fittings?
>
> Also, what's the double cardan joint ball for? In looking at the exploded
> diagram of the double cardan joint in the front driveshaft (right next to
> the xfer case) there is a ball fitting that looks like its got a grease
> fitting. What I'm wondering is why you need this spring-ball at all. If the
> spiders are handling all the load from transferring power from the
> driveshaft through the double cardan joint then what is the point of the
> ball that goes between the spider and the center yoke in the double cardan
> joint?
>
> --
> there is no .sig

 

Hi Doug,
Sounds safer than letting the wife run you over. You'll need a
grease needle to get the center bearing:
http://www.----------.com/cvZerk.jpg Without that centering bearing the
constant velocity universal joints would wobble all over the place:
http://www.----------.com/CVJoint.jpg
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:--------------------
Doug wrote:
>
> If I jack up both front tires of my cherokee, apply the parking brake and
> put the auto-trans in neutral and leave the xfer case in 4WD will I be able
> to freely rotate the front driveshaft so I can get to all the zerk grease
> fittings?
>
> Also, what's the double cardan joint ball for? In looking at the exploded
> diagram of the double cardan joint in the front driveshaft (right next to
> the xfer case) there is a ball fitting that looks like its got a grease
> fitting. What I'm wondering is why you need this spring-ball at all. If the
> spiders are handling all the load from transferring power from the
> driveshaft through the double cardan joint then what is the point of the
> ball that goes between the spider and the center yoke in the double cardan
> joint?
>
> --
> there is no .sig

 

Hi Doug,
Sounds safer than letting the wife run you over. You'll need a
grease needle to get the center bearing:
http://www.----------.com/cvZerk.jpg Without that centering bearing the
constant velocity universal joints would wobble all over the place:
http://www.----------.com/CVJoint.jpg
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:--------------------
Doug wrote:
>
> If I jack up both front tires of my cherokee, apply the parking brake and
> put the auto-trans in neutral and leave the xfer case in 4WD will I be able
> to freely rotate the front driveshaft so I can get to all the zerk grease
> fittings?
>
> Also, what's the double cardan joint ball for? In looking at the exploded
> diagram of the double cardan joint in the front driveshaft (right next to
> the xfer case) there is a ball fitting that looks like its got a grease
> fitting. What I'm wondering is why you need this spring-ball at all. If the
> spiders are handling all the load from transferring power from the
> driveshaft through the double cardan joint then what is the point of the
> ball that goes between the spider and the center yoke in the double cardan
> joint?
>
> --
> there is no .sig

 

Bill, the thing is, I've never even been able to see that grease fitting
(for the ball), no matter how much I rotate the front driveshaft. Does the
ball and spring put pressure on the spider? Is this how it stops the
double-cardan joint from wobbling?

--
there is no .sig
"L.W. ("ßill") ------ III" <----------@***.net> wrote in message
news:42C9AF16.36B6EB54@***.net...
> Hi Doug,
> Sounds safer than letting the wife run you over. You'll need a
> grease needle to get the center bearing:
> http://www.----------.com/cvZerk.jpg Without that centering bearing the
> constant velocity universal joints would wobble all over the place:
> http://www.----------.com/CVJoint.jpg
> God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
> mailto:--------------------
> Doug wrote:
>>
>> If I jack up both front tires of my cherokee, apply the parking brake and
>> put the auto-trans in neutral and leave the xfer case in 4WD will I be
>> able
>> to freely rotate the front driveshaft so I can get to all the zerk grease
>> fittings?
>>
>> Also, what's the double cardan joint ball for? In looking at the exploded
>> diagram of the double cardan joint in the front driveshaft (right next to
>> the xfer case) there is a ball fitting that looks like its got a grease
>> fitting. What I'm wondering is why you need this spring-ball at all. If
>> the
>> spiders are handling all the load from transferring power from the
>> driveshaft through the double cardan joint then what is the point of the
>> ball that goes between the spider and the center yoke in the double
>> cardan
>> joint?
>>
>> --
>> there is no .sig

 

Bill, the thing is, I've never even been able to see that grease fitting
(for the ball), no matter how much I rotate the front driveshaft. Does the
ball and spring put pressure on the spider? Is this how it stops the
double-cardan joint from wobbling?

--
there is no .sig
"L.W. ("ßill") ------ III" <----------@***.net> wrote in message
news:42C9AF16.36B6EB54@***.net...
> Hi Doug,
> Sounds safer than letting the wife run you over. You'll need a
> grease needle to get the center bearing:
> http://www.----------.com/cvZerk.jpg Without that centering bearing the
> constant velocity universal joints would wobble all over the place:
> http://www.----------.com/CVJoint.jpg
> God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
> mailto:--------------------
> Doug wrote:
>>
>> If I jack up both front tires of my cherokee, apply the parking brake and
>> put the auto-trans in neutral and leave the xfer case in 4WD will I be
>> able
>> to freely rotate the front driveshaft so I can get to all the zerk grease
>> fittings?
>>
>> Also, what's the double cardan joint ball for? In looking at the exploded
>> diagram of the double cardan joint in the front driveshaft (right next to
>> the xfer case) there is a ball fitting that looks like its got a grease
>> fitting. What I'm wondering is why you need this spring-ball at all. If
>> the
>> spiders are handling all the load from transferring power from the
>> driveshaft through the double cardan joint then what is the point of the
>> ball that goes between the spider and the center yoke in the double
>> cardan
>> joint?
>>
>> --
>> there is no .sig

 

Bill, the thing is, I've never even been able to see that grease fitting
(for the ball), no matter how much I rotate the front driveshaft. Does the
ball and spring put pressure on the spider? Is this how it stops the
double-cardan joint from wobbling?

--
there is no .sig
"L.W. ("ßill") ------ III" <----------@***.net> wrote in message
news:42C9AF16.36B6EB54@***.net...
> Hi Doug,
> Sounds safer than letting the wife run you over. You'll need a
> grease needle to get the center bearing:
> http://www.----------.com/cvZerk.jpg Without that centering bearing the
> constant velocity universal joints would wobble all over the place:
> http://www.----------.com/CVJoint.jpg
> God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
> mailto:--------------------
> Doug wrote:
>>
>> If I jack up both front tires of my cherokee, apply the parking brake and
>> put the auto-trans in neutral and leave the xfer case in 4WD will I be
>> able
>> to freely rotate the front driveshaft so I can get to all the zerk grease
>> fittings?
>>
>> Also, what's the double cardan joint ball for? In looking at the exploded
>> diagram of the double cardan joint in the front driveshaft (right next to
>> the xfer case) there is a ball fitting that looks like its got a grease
>> fitting. What I'm wondering is why you need this spring-ball at all. If
>> the
>> spiders are handling all the load from transferring power from the
>> driveshaft through the double cardan joint then what is the point of the
>> ball that goes between the spider and the center yoke in the double
>> cardan
>> joint?
>>
>> --
>> there is no .sig

 

Bill, the thing is, I've never even been able to see that grease fitting
(for the ball), no matter how much I rotate the front driveshaft. Does the
ball and spring put pressure on the spider? Is this how it stops the
double-cardan joint from wobbling?

--
there is no .sig
"L.W. ("ßill") ------ III" <----------@***.net> wrote in message
news:42C9AF16.36B6EB54@***.net...
> Hi Doug,
> Sounds safer than letting the wife run you over. You'll need a
> grease needle to get the center bearing:
> http://www.----------.com/cvZerk.jpg Without that centering bearing the
> constant velocity universal joints would wobble all over the place:
> http://www.----------.com/CVJoint.jpg
> God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
> mailto:--------------------
> Doug wrote:
>>
>> If I jack up both front tires of my cherokee, apply the parking brake and
>> put the auto-trans in neutral and leave the xfer case in 4WD will I be
>> able
>> to freely rotate the front driveshaft so I can get to all the zerk grease
>> fittings?
>>
>> Also, what's the double cardan joint ball for? In looking at the exploded
>> diagram of the double cardan joint in the front driveshaft (right next to
>> the xfer case) there is a ball fitting that looks like its got a grease
>> fitting. What I'm wondering is why you need this spring-ball at all. If
>> the
>> spiders are handling all the load from transferring power from the
>> driveshaft through the double cardan joint then what is the point of the
>> ball that goes between the spider and the center yoke in the double
>> cardan
>> joint?
>>
>> --
>> there is no .sig

 

The thing is Bill, with the double-cardan joint installed, I can't even see
that zerk fitting (for the double-cardan joint ball). The skid plate that
holds up the xfer case is right there in the way, but even then the zerk
fitting is covered by the knuckle of the spider.

Does the double-cardan joint ball and spring assembly put pressure on the
spider to prevent wobbling?

Thanks for all your responses and advice too Bill. I really appreciate it.
Were you a mechanic in a previous life (maybe after you were in the army)?
What unit were you in when you were in the army?

--
there is no .sig
"L.W. ("ßill") ------ III" <----------@***.net> wrote in message
news:42C9AF16.36B6EB54@***.net...
> Hi Doug,
> Sounds safer than letting the wife run you over. You'll need a
> grease needle to get the center bearing:
> http://www.----------.com/cvZerk.jpg Without that centering bearing the
> constant velocity universal joints would wobble all over the place:
> http://www.----------.com/CVJoint.jpg
> God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
> mailto:--------------------
> Doug wrote:
>>
>> If I jack up both front tires of my cherokee, apply the parking brake and
>> put the auto-trans in neutral and leave the xfer case in 4WD will I be
>> able
>> to freely rotate the front driveshaft so I can get to all the zerk grease
>> fittings?
>>
>> Also, what's the double cardan joint ball for? In looking at the exploded
>> diagram of the double cardan joint in the front driveshaft (right next to
>> the xfer case) there is a ball fitting that looks like its got a grease
>> fitting. What I'm wondering is why you need this spring-ball at all. If
>> the
>> spiders are handling all the load from transferring power from the
>> driveshaft through the double cardan joint then what is the point of the
>> ball that goes between the spider and the center yoke in the double
>> cardan
>> joint?
>>
>> --
>> there is no .sig