This is just a though but you might be money ahead to swap out the
whole front axle with a good one from a bone yard. It would only take
maybe a few hours of labor at most if mech knew what they were doing
and it would likely cost you less overall. You could tea into that one
and find damage in hub assemble and cost more money to fix and those
ball joints are a pain to change and could cost more in a rust belt
area if they are fused in there with rust.
-----------------
TheSnoMan.com

Sounds high. Even with new spindles both sides you should be under $300
for parts. Try "Cheap Jeeps" in Framingham. To him a favor by bying a
couple cans of Liquid Wrench or PB Blaster (not wd-40) a couple weeks
before the job and soak everything in the hub area down from the back
side of the wheels several times.

Hmm.. on the 93ZJ it's three bolts and the whole axle slides out.

http://www.chryslerpartsdirect.com/
A new OEM Right shaft is $473
If you have ABS the shaft is only $409
If you have disconnects the shaft is $348

Have a weekend and a mechanically incline friend?
http://www.billhughes.com/Dana30WheelBearing/index.htm
http://jeep.off-road.com/jeep/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=257794
Use lots of penetrating fluid, and maybe a couple extra hub bolts to beat
on, to drive the hub spindle out of the knuckle
http://www.4x4wire.com/tech/axle/ujoint/
       God Bless America, Bill 0|||||||0
mailto:LWHughes3rd@aol.com http://www.billhughes.com/

Sounds pretty spendy. The XJ should have the standard U joint, not the
cardigan. Replacement U joint runs $10 to $15 plus labor. If the bearing
 hub comes out easily, about an hour labor in a good shop. If it comes
out hard (plan on it given the salted roads!!) , a GOOD shop can handle
it without too much extra time. If they don't do these very often, they
might try to get you for 4 hours. That is per side so $200 to $250 for
both sides would not be out of line.

I'm showing $185 for a ball joint set (per side) from
http://www.chryslerpartsdirect.com/ . Expect half that at NAPA. No idea
on the labor cost.

I'd expect some play in the ball joints, no idea if yours is minor
expected wear, serious wear, or don't drive it until it's fixed wear.

I live in the rust belt also.  The last steering u-joint that went on my
Cherokee happened as I am loading it for a camping trip, I turned the
wheel to shuffle it for loading and noticed it.  I sent my son for parts
and had it changed and the wheel back on in an hour.  (only because I
have done a bunch and was in no mood to fool around so used my real BFH,
a 10 pounder on it)

I have an extra bolt I use to pound on so I don't damage the stock ones.

I recommend you pull one bolt out and go get a replacement before you
start, to use as a beat on bolt.

Once the wheel and brakes are off, I cut the steering to the side so I
can get a clear swing at the bolt that is in the back to hit it after
all 3 are loosened off.  I then cut the steering the other way to get
the other bolt.  The bottom one I can swing at from the front with the
steering cut.

I also use penetrating oil on the seam and the bolt ends to help make it
move.

I do not undo the big center axle nut unless I am changing the axle or
hub, it all pulls out as one piece and the u-joint can be pressed out
without messing with the hub or bearings.

I also use a good coating of antiseize compound on the seam so it comes
apart really easily the next time.  That silver messy stuff is worth
it's weight in gold up here in the rust belt.

The ball joint is another matter.  But, if you already have done the
u-joint, then the hub will pull out easy for the 'mechanic' to replace
it.  You can tell him he doesn't need to undo the axle nut also as most
don't seem to be aware of this.

Ball joints are a 'ton' of work when rusty and don't seat back in well
at all without the proper press.  I also have had to cut the nuts off
about 80% of the ones I have done because the joint spins before the nut
moves on the threads or there is no flats left on the nut to grab.

Good luck!

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
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