'02 Town & Country U-Joints

I have an '02 Town and Country van that I believe needs a front
u-joint. Not sure which one yet, haven't got it in the air yet.
Anyone know if these can be changed at home by someone who is fairly
mecanically inclined?

NES

 

Very easy and can be done at home,

 

the only tru u joint your van has is part of the steering colum shaft
and not the drive axles

 

The constant velocity joints in fwd drive shafts are just as much "universal
joints" as the one in the steering column.

 

i don't think so

 

Yep - they are a certain type of universal joint. All constant velocity
joints are universal joints, but not all universal joints are constant
velocity. In the same way, the inner CV joint is a DOJ (double offset
joint), but it also is a type of CV joint (DOJ is a type of CVJ, but not
all CVJ's are DOJ's).

 

<clipped>

Why did you spoil your response by including the word "so"?

A joint or coupling used between shafts that aren't in line is "universal".
The cross type (Cardan) is one type and is used commonly in rwd prop.
shafts, and in some steering columns. You can't, however, say that the
various types used in fwd drive shafts aren't universal joints
themselves....they're just different.

 

well when using the word universal very loosely then i guess you are right

 

Yeah, right, "loosely"...the same way Merriam-Webster define it:

universal joint (noun)...."a shaft coupling capable of transmitting rotation
from one shaft to another not collinear with it"

 

So, do I cut the old boots off or loosen them and slide them over the
old joints? Are there replacement boots I can buy?


NES

 

once the axles are out of the van they can be seperated by tapping with a
hammer in the right place

 

I believe the noise I'm hearing is coming from the steering, not the
axels.


NES

 

more than likey the sway bar bushings are shot

 

Thanks, I'll look.


NES