Front axle turns hard

The front axle turns hard on the 55 cj under construction. The camber is out
and I was told there is no adjustment for this, Better to rotate tires. but this may not be the problem. When it had the pinto engine in it. The driveshaft was hitting the starter motor. You could see the wear on the driveshaft and starter motor. When I took off the front cover all of the gears looked like new. So I believe it may be the bearings just beyond the u joint in the back of the differential. I was wondering if these bearings can be removed from the back or does the entire driveline have to be removed. The manual I have does not show how to remove these bearings. A used front axle is $250, and it may be easier simply to replace the entire axle fixing both problems. But if the bearings can be removed easily from the back I would try this first. But I do not have the knowledge to disassemble the entire front axle.
Doug/Tucson

 

the pinto Motor has been replaced with the F-head. So there will not be this problem, but I believe that bearings were damaged when it had the pinto engine in it. When you turn the shaft where the u joint goes it turns by hand But there is something binding about every quarter turn. I am hoping the bearings were damage by the driveshaft and not something more complicated
Doug/Tucson

 

I'm assuming you have this up on jack stands or something while you're turning it, right? Could it just be something more simple like the shoes are rubbing on the drums?

 

I simply have the hubs in the freewheeling position, and I doubt it is the brakes because it has somewhat of a crunching feeling. When turned with the hubs out. It should spin freely
Doug/Tucson

 

Have you serviced the wheel bearings? Could be one source of binding/grinding if they're dry or contaminated with debris. If you're in there checking that, just pull the spindle and backing plate off and check the u-joints in each knuckle. And since you're there, time for knuckle pudding.
If the wheels are spinning freely, but the knuckles are stiff or indexed, overhaul the kingpin bearings. My D27 from the '68 parts donor had broken bearings in the top kingpins.
It can kind of snowball sometimes..."Well, while I'm here I might as well do..."
Every Jeeper has been there (some are still there...I'm still there!).

 

played with it a little more today and the bearings at the back of the differential really didn't feel like the problem. I took off the cover of the differential and had those gears inspected by Willys works. And he said they looked really good, and he also noted that someone had been into the enclosed. u joint area due to a new felt seal. The enclosed universal joint is a little intimidating but I think you might be right. I will attempt to access the universal joint but probably will be back asking for additional information. Since my manual has little information on the front axle but has detailed information on the rear axle. Time to attempt this learning experience
because my transmission rebuild will be a little time, because Willys works is very backed up. I needed a special tool to replace the hubs from full time 4wheel-drive to locking hubs on my chev. c-10, will I need any special tools
Doug/Tucson

 

Check out www.jeepdoc.com , click on "Parts Dept.", click on "Front Axle" and pick either Dana 25 or 27 and take a look at the exploded view of the axle. That will give you a good idea of what to expect is in there and their order.
Also, do you have locking hubs? Maybe post a pic...Warn hubs have a snap ring behind the dial that can be illusive and, if not removed, will prevent you from getting anything off of the knuckle.

 

This is what Im looking at, never had to do with an enclosed Universal Joint
Before, so I'm really not sure what needs to be disassembled. Thanks for the
link, I hope I can learn how to do this. It probably looks harder than it is
Doug/Tucson

 

if the hubs are unlocked, the axles don't turn......
maybe hub bad or hanging up

 

Another problem I do not know what type of axel I have I would guess it was stock 1955 Cj5 axel I really appreciate the help. Does anybody know what axel I might have. I could send additional photographs, if necessary between this site and willys works I might actually know what I'm doing eventually and then I can become actually helpful myself. Thank you
Doug/Tucson

 

Okay....I read the posts again and I think we need to back up. What I think you're saying is: With the Jeep on the ground as pictured in your first post, and the hubs unlocked (freewheeling), you tried to spin the yoke on the front differential (where the u-joint on the driveshaft connects).
If this is the case, I'd start with the hubs. I'm not at all familiar with Selectro hubs, but they could dirty or not completely disengaging. Spinning the yoke with the hubs unlocked is only turning the ring, pinion, and axle shafts. So...Pop the hubs off and try to spin the yoke. Still doing it? Pull the axle shafts out (they slide right out after removing the hub, spindle and backing plate) and check the u-joints on the shafts. Try to spin the yoke again. Still doing it? Then it's probably in the ring and pinion.
The axle should be a Dana 25. Parts are plentiful (www.jeepdoc.com , www.4wd.com , etc.) as are complete units (classifieds, junk yards, etc.). Don't give up just yet. There's a ton of expertise on this site, and we'll help you out.

 

enclosed u joint? what i am thinking is this u joint you speek of is actually the axel joint,no big deal just the best thing to come along since electricty,well as far as a jeep goes, just like a chevy only enclosed in the axel,best set up on the planet,nothing can get to it if all the seals are up to par

 

Will start pulling it apart tomorrow and I will take photos at every step
I would really love to learn how to do this. Unfortunately, I know just enough to get myself in trouble. Thanks for your replies, talk with you tomorrow
Doug/Tucson