drive shaft leak = bad??

[antFJ]

hey all. i just got my drive shafts sandblasted, and i just noticed when i picked them up today that the front drive shaft has a pin hole that is leaking grease. i was just going to fill it in with JB weld and paint it but now i'm thinking that it might be weak in that area. i don't plan on doing any hardcore wheeling - what do you think? should i get a new one.. or should the jb weld be good enough.. just seal the hole and call it a day..

 

[74fjsemistock]

I would think you'll be fine for a while.Drive shafts are pretty cheap so what the heck.Patch it/putt it and order a couple.If you take the time to sand blast and paint your driveshafts you already know what you're gonna do.

 

[pigpen4x4]

Where exactly is the hole you are talking about? The drive shaft itself is just tubing and there shouldn't be any grease in it, but if there is it shouldn't hurt anything. The pin hole should be just fine, but if you want to JB weld it up for cosmetics then go for it.

 

[antFJ]

these are the only two i've ever seen.. and well. each drive shaft has two separate pieces and the two halves are splined - one is female, one is male.

the leak is on the female half of the front driveshaft - and there is grease in there - there is also a grease fitting on the driveshaft so i would imagine it is supposed to be there.

 

[antFJ]

i lied it's my rear driveshaft.

 

[74fjsemistock]

It is packed with grease for slip.You should be okay with the JB Weld.If it's just a pin hole.If the metal is really chewed up you could shear it with a bit of torque.Spinning tires on an ice-covered stream and breaking through with a foot to the floor and catching a rocky river bottom.Ask me how I know.Of course that was in a cj5.You're golden.

 

[antFJ]

thanks for the advice everyone

 

[andrewfarmer]

whereabouts is the hole? I'm guessing it's behind the U joint?

 

[pigpen4x4]

Sorry, I didn't understanding the location of the hole. You're right, there is grease in the splined portion. As long as it is a pin hole on the female portion of the drive shaft, and not much larger, there wont be any issues just using some JB weld.

these are the only two i've ever seen.. and well. each drive shaft has two separate pieces and the two halves are splined - one is female, one is male.

the leak is on the female half of the front driveshaft - and there is grease in there - there is also a grease fitting on the driveshaft so i would imagine it is supposed to be there.

 

[scott67fj40]

DO NOT PATCH IT!!!!!!
You need that hole there. It is supposed to be there.
When the spline slips back and forth, the hole allows air to come in and out.
If you do not have a hole it makes suction when it trys to slip out and pressure when slipping in.
If you do not have this hole it can cause the seal on the slipe yoke that keeps crud from getting into your spline to burst.

 

[antFJ]

hmm good point. i'll take that logic.. it's just that there wasn't one on my other driveshaft.. that i saw. So i am going to look tomorrow. but your reasoning is good enough for me.

thanks again

 

[74fjsemistock]

I assumed he made the hole while hitting it with blasting media.I stand corrected.