Drive Shaft Rubs

The front driveshaft on my 5 is rubbing against the bellhousing and starter. I noticed the yoke that secures the bellhousing to the frame is missing a nut and the bracket on the frame looks busted. I don't think the shaft rubs at idle, but looks like it does under load. I've posted some photos below to show the shaft and yoke.

Is the yoke the issue or are there other potential causes? Also, what should the bracket look like and is there anything special about the nut that fastens yoke to bracket...or could I pick up a replacement nut at my local ACE?


Thanks in advance for any comments!



CJ5Bellhousing by Healey1, on Flickr


CJ5propshaft by Healey1, on Flickr

 

that is quite close. probrobly because the springs bottom out with the plow on. i grinded my starter a bit on the bottom where it rubbed and solve my problem. But for you id suggest air shocks or helper springs up front. Maby even new springs although they too would get trashed with the weight of the plow. Also check the transfer case mount thats off to the side on the x member. I dont think that thing you pictured has too much to do with it but it might help to get that sorted out

 

Yeah, I was thinking the problem are the springs too.

This should be a cable, not a piece of rod. The flat sock on for farthest end is correct. My junker CJ5 has that and the cable. One end has a ball and the other has a threaded end that goes to the bell housing. The ball end goes on that little bracket on the cross member. I can grab a pic of the one on my 3A. That bracket is not broken BTW.

 

Moved to proper forum. This is not a question about a flatfender...

 

Not sure why the PO would've replaced that yoke with a solid bar vs cable:? I agree, the weight of the plow coupled with some worn front springs is likely the reason for the shaft wearing the starter and bellhouse. Until I can get that resolved I'll unlock the hubs and keep it in 2WD.

Any suggestions on where to go for spings and what type would be best? I should probably go for something more robust to counter the plow. My plan is to run the plow on her for a few more years and then do a restore, removing the plow permanantly. (I've got a bad back and this old girl has been a life saver).

 

Get a set of stock springs, the thicker pack, IIRC is 10 leaf.

http://www.kaiserwillys.com/product...sion-leaf-spring-assemblies-parts-accessories

 

Well, I would expect the starter should never hit the drive shaft on a factory-equipped vehicle, even with a plow and weak springs (although I proved this wrong on the Jeep dealership dually). I'm assuming this is a factory V6 installation.

A few things to check -
o I recall that the front driveshaft on a V6 CJ has a special small diameter yoke? Maybe that's missing here.
o The front axle should have a bump stop that sticks out from the axle. This stop changes the driveshaft geometry when the spring is fully compressed. If the rubber on the bump stop is worn out, that would bring the driveshaft closer to the starter.
o Check the motor mounts and transmission mounts for settling. Putting the engine up a little higher, even a fraction of an inch, would help. That transmission mount looks wrong to me.

Bob Supplee is the usual recommendation for sourcing springs. He's in the parts sticky thread at the top of the forum.

 

You don't say what year of CJ you're working on but if a factory installation there should be a "snubber" or bump stop coming off the frame that limits the upward movement of the front axle. It's common for the rubber bumper to rot off or fall off with age and be missing. Might check for that as it's function is to help keep the driveline from hitting the starter and bellhousing on V-6 models.

 

way back when I just did add-a-leafs

 

Here's a pic of that cable.



Ewww! I need to clean off all the 90 weight that dribbled down.... I'm ashamed of myself.

 

that's what I thought at first...
after studying the parts book and other diagrams, it appears correct.
What threw me for a loop was the plate between the trans and the mount; it's an illusion from the picture.

I think lift in the front is the only way to cure this, springs or otherwise.

 

Thanks for the feedback guys! As far as I know she's mostly stock with some mods to steering and exhaust. The body #s do show her to be :v6: I'll check on the mounts and get a closer look at the springs and report back. I remember when I first checked her out at the PO's place they looked flat in the front.

 

yes my jeep with the t86aa and v6 had that offset mounting plate also. What is that ball and cable thingey designed to do anyhow? Keep the engine from going forward obviously. but wouldnt the mounts do a good enough job? my 2a doent have that connected and it seems fine. Or is it like the old left hand lug nuts and they just did it because they thought the fan blowing would pull the engine into the radiator lol

 

yeah, I'm not exactly sure what it does either. Reverse antichatter?

 

My 2A has the ball and cable thing, too. Not sure what it does or what it's called. Also, why would it be a cable and not a solid rod...like the PO has retrofitted to my CJ5?

 

Couple more photos.

The bump stops are present. The space between the frame bump stop and the axle is about 1 1/8th inch. The distance between this stop and the axle decreases only slightly with the plow up - maybe by 1/8 inch or less. The other bump stop that's mounted to the axle has a very small gap between it and the frame (1/8th inch) with the plow down (no weight). When I raise the plow however, this stop hits the frame.

The motor and transmission mounts look OK to me.

There are some photos of the front spings. These are with the plow down - no weight - and they're looking pretty flat! You can see from the last photo that the jeep sits low in the front, again even with plow down.

I think it's time for new springs.


2010_12150003 by Healey1, on Flickr


2010_12150010 by Healey1, on Flickr


2010_12150013 by Healey1, on Flickr


2010_12150008 by Healey1, on Flickr


2010_12150023 by Healey1, on Flickr

 

You can get a urethane replacement for that bump stop: Prothane 19-1301.

That snubber is supposed to tilt the pinion end of the axle down in the last inch or so of the axle travel. It looks like it's been spaced up to make up for the smashed-ness of the rubber. You could fix that, but I expect you'll be riding on it all the time if you don't replace the springs.