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Replacing the Model 18 Intermediate Shaft

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by unclebill, Mar 5, 2010.

  1. Mar 5, 2010
    unclebill

    unclebill Banned

    a sun blasted...
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    Feb 17, 2009
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    ok
    the whine from my t/c is finally getting to me.
    it is my understanding that i can replace it while it is still in the vehicle.
    and i need to drive it out from the front.
    has anybody done this ?
    and if so .
    do you have any pointers?
    once again this is being done in a muddy driveway (oh joy! rapture!)
    thank you
    bill
     
  2. Mar 5, 2010
    jc588

    jc588 Member

    Ruston, La
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    Jun 24, 2009
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    Just replaced mine, but had the transfer out as well as the transmission, not a terrible job but can see where it would be difficult lying on your back in the mud. Take your time loading the bearings in the gear.
     
  3. Mar 5, 2010
    Hawk5274

    Hawk5274 Member

    Ohio
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    Nov 10, 2009
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    163
    UncleBill,
    Try this, Amsoil synthetic 90 weight gear oil would keep a Spicer-18 cooler and you will have alot, alot, less noise. And it may save you from tears in the muddy driveway. :coffee:
     
  4. Mar 5, 2010
    Daryl

    Daryl Sponsor

    Bonney Lake, WA
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    May 25, 2006
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    I think its worth the time to just pull it out. Five bolts, two drivelines, shifters and speedo cable. Really tacky (Permatex) assembly grease will help keep the 48 bearings in place. Make sure you get good quality thrust washers too. Good time to de-grease the whole park brake assembly also. And while you are in there the crossmember mount and torque mount can be checked.
     
  5. Mar 5, 2010
    SmokinIdahoan

    SmokinIdahoan Avian Flu Controller

    Twin Falls, Idaho
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    Sep 26, 2009
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    172
    Dont know if its true...but someone told me they were running straight 50wt motor oil in both tranny/tc and it made shifting nicer, and running quieter...again, dont know if thats true...but thats what i heard....
     
  6. Mar 5, 2010
    Dummy

    Dummy I kick hippies

    Escondido, CA
    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2004
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    I've never tried to do it in the vehicle, but if I did I'd make up a dummy plug out of a wooden dowel the same size as the intermediate shaft. As the old shaft comes out (drive it out through the rear of the case) the dummy plug inserts to keep the rollers from falling out (hopefully).

    Not that hard to pull 'em out and that will let you check out the condition of the roller bearings. If the shaft is galled, they could be as well. I think you're setting yourself up for a bunch of complications and wasted time rather than just biting the bullet and grunting it out properly from the get-go. Speaking from experience here - I do that stuff to myself all the time!

    Finally - buy the Novak shaft. Worth the extra money. I and my friends have had other brands go bad in as little as a hundred miles 'cause the shafts aren't properly hardened like the Novak ones.
     
  7. Mar 5, 2010
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    You can pull it on your driveway without a lot of equipment. I have, using the OEM scissors jack to support the back of the engine. Get a blue tarp to lie on, put some cribbing and a jack under the bellhousing, and muscle it down.

    You might try the Amsoil or other additives to get you through the spring.
     
  8. Mar 5, 2010
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    Nov 22, 2003
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    8,102
    Agreed, the "regular' repelcement shafts are a crap shoot, get he Novak & if your budget will stand it the "good" bearing set from Herm.

    $$$ well spent.

    H.
     
  9. Mar 5, 2010
    bkd

    bkd Moderator Supreme Staff Member 2022 Sponsor

    K-Town Tenn.
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    Apr 29, 2007
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    that whine will get quieter when the top comes off for the summer ;)
     
  10. Mar 5, 2010
    Mcruff

    Mcruff Earlycj5 Machinist

    Albertville, AL
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    If he had a v6 and headers he'd never here it anytime.R)
     
  11. Mar 5, 2010
    lamar

    lamar Member

    greenville sc
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    I've done it a couple of times, didn't use a dummy shaft though, might have made it easier if I had, but it was not to hard to do. took about a hour and a half. I used a lot of Vaseline,ever time I put a row of needle bearings in I would put more Vaseline on the ones just installed and start another row. The hardest part was keeping the thrust washers in place, but still it was not that bad. If you use a heavier grease on the back side of the thrust washers they will stay in place better. Once you get the gear lined up, stick your finger in the t/c hole and make sure the thrust washer is lined up, then start the shaft in , very gently. When the end of the shaft gets near the other bore in the t/c put your finger in the hole to be sure the other thrust washer is still lined up. Anytime during the process you feel resistance stop and check why. The shaft should slide thru with very little resistance till it starts to come thru the front side of the t/c.
     
  12. Mar 5, 2010
    jpflat2a

    jpflat2a what's that noise?

    Hermosa, SD
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    Jul 30, 2003
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    8,513
    wow...lots of "pull the transfer case" folks
    if you're mechanically inclined, easily done without pulling the transfer case out.
    drop the skid plate, drain the oil, drop the pan, and you're in...
    doesn't get much easier
    but do chock the wheels

    guess I'm the oddman out in this situation.
     
  13. Mar 5, 2010
    Patrick

    Patrick Super Moderator Staff Member

    Los Alamos, NM
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    I've never done one in the Jeep, but if I was only going to replace the intermediate shaft and bearings, I would. Well, on a transfer case I knew the history of anyway. You can even do Advance's tapered bearing shaft in the Jeep. I'm excited to try mine out.
     
  14. Mar 5, 2010
    unclebill

    unclebill Banned

    a sun blasted...
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    that top is most likely never coming off again.
    too big of a PITA and it rains everytime its off.
     
    Last edited: Apr 24, 2010
  15. Mar 5, 2010
    Warloch

    Warloch Did you say Flattie??? Staff Member

    Falcon, CO
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    <note to self, next drought have Bill take his top off>

    <shudder>

    <be sure to clarify his JEEP top>

    :)
     
  16. Mar 5, 2010
    unclebill

    unclebill Banned

    a sun blasted...
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    has anybody used herm the overdrive guys shaft kit?
     
  17. Mar 5, 2010
    Warloch

    Warloch Did you say Flattie??? Staff Member

    Falcon, CO
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    Yup - they are as hard or harder than Novak's. Call and talk to him. He can give you the hardness numbers for both.
     
  18. Mar 5, 2010
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
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    I've replaced the shaft without removing the t-case. If it's the 1 and 1/8 shaft it has the caged bearings so that's much easier. A dummy shaft helps a lot. First thing is to determine if it's bad. Drop the pan and see if the gear wiggles is the first step, then determine which size shaft is in there.
     
  19. Mar 5, 2010
    jc588

    jc588 Member

    Ruston, La
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    Jun 24, 2009
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    Been running Herm's kit for about 500 miles and still sounds pretty quiet.
     
  20. Mar 5, 2010
    lamar

    lamar Member

    greenville sc
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    Forgot to say this in my original post, This is the way I did it with the t/c case still in the vehicle. Did it laying on a piece of plywood in the back yard.
     
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