The drive shaft on your jeep transfers torque from the gearbox to the differential, which then transfers it to the wheels to propel the vehicle. Your Jeep’s front and rear driveshafts link to the transmission and differentials through universal joints.
Your driving abilities will be hampered if the drive shaft malfunctions. So, in order to drive smoothly on the road, you’ll need to replace the drive shaft.
The parts of the drive shaft will cost between $320 to $750 dollars, while labor will cost between $150 and $190 dollars.
Stay with me to learn more about Jeep Wrangler (JK) drive shaft replacement costs, and we’ll provide you with all the relevant details you need to know!
Jeep Wrangler Jk Front Drive Shaft Replacement Cost (Updated Price)
The cost of Drive Shaft Replacement might vary widely depending on the source of the problem and the speed with which it can be fixed.
If you only need to replace a half-shaft on your front-wheel-drive vehicle, the cost will range between $470 and $940.
You should expect to pay anywhere from $600 to $2,000 if your car has a lengthy drive shaft that powers the rear wheels. With labor costs ranging from $150 to $250, depending on the service center, state, and taxes in that state, the final cost is mostly determined by these factors.
Parts and labor costs are directly related to the type of car you drive, so keep that in mind.
Normally, the cost of replacing a rear-wheel or four-wheel drive vehicle’s drive shaft will increase.
When Should You Replace Your Jeep (Wrangler) Jk Front Drive Shaft?
Driveshafts generally have a life expectancy of roughly 75,000 miles. Keep in mind that the amount you receive may be significantly reduced or increased, depending on the car and the amount of use it has seen.
Changing the height of your driveshaft increases the risk of it breaking down, so you’ll need to replace it sooner. Keeping the u-joints lubricated is a good way to increase the life of your driveshaft.
The following is a detailed list of warning indicators that your driveshaft is nearing the end of its useful life:
- You may hear a squeaky noise while driving. As the disease progresses, it may become more and more frequent.
- You may feel a vibration as you drive, but it’s nothing to worry about. As the driveshaft deteriorates, this might get stronger over time.
- You may hear a clunking sound when you switch from reverse to driving mode and begin to speed.
- You have an issue with your drive shaft if your U-joint spins too quickly or doesn’t move at all.
- Drive shaft problems occur when your wheels don’t spin quickly or at all when you attempt to make a turn in your car.
In order to avoid harming other elements of your car, you should have your driveshaft checked out if you feel it’s nearing the end of its life cycle.
Driveshaft replacement is necessary if you notice any of the above-mentioned symptoms.
Jeep (Wrangler) Jk Front Drive Shaft Installation Guide:
The following are the tools and products you will need to install the driveshaft-
- 3/8 or 1/2-inch drive ratchet and 8mm socket, plus a large sized assortment
- Torque wrench
- Large hammer (preferably a rubber mallet)
- Silicon
- Loctite
- Jack and jack stands or lift
Here are the steps for installing the front driveshaft on your jeep wrangler:
Step 1: Lift your Jeep
Park on a level surface and jack up your Jeep. Starting from either end, raise the hydraulic floor jack high enough to set a couple of jack stands. And so on. If you don’t have access to a lift, always use approved lifting and jack stand positions, and never work beneath your Jeep without jack stands.
Step 2: Removable transfer case skid plate
The skid plate is secured to the frame by four bolts. Remove the four bolts, then hold the skid plate while removing the last one to avoid damage.
Step 3: Disconnect front driveshaft from flange
Remove the eight 8mm driveshaft flange bolts. You can remove four or five at first, then pull the Jeep forward or backward to turn the driveshaft and access the remaining nuts.
Step 4: Unbolt driveshaft from axle
After removing the eight bolts from the driveshaft and flange, turn the shaft around. On this end, the shaft is secured to the flange by four bolts. Remove these four bolts and prepare to sweat.
Step 5: Subdue the driveshaft
This is the most challenging phase of the process. Take the heaviest hammer or mallet you can find and beat the tar out of the driveshaft flange. The axle end usually comes out easier than the transfer case. Prep the shafts with PB Blaster or WD-40 the night before work.
Step 6: Remove the flanges
If you don’t have an air gun, you’ll need to wrench on the central nut while holding it motionless. Remove the center nut and the flange should come off with a heavy hammer. The same procedure applies to the axle and the transfer case.
Step 7: Set up the new flanges on either end.
Use plenty of silicone on the splines within the new flange before reinstalling it on the axle end. Install the middle nut on the flange and Loctite the threads. Assemble the driveshaft according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Rep for the transfer case flange and torque the nut to the manufacturer’s specs.
Step 8: Install the forward driveshaft flanges.
Apply Loctite to the threads of the bolts before fitting the driveshaft onto the flange.
To install these shafts, the bolts must be torqued to the manufacturer’s specifications.
The eight 8mm bolts on the transfer case end and the four on the axle end are presumably OEM replacements.
Depending on the driveshaft, you may only need four nuts on either end. In this case, Tom Woods utilizes four bolts on each flange. Make sure they’re all correctly torqued.
For better understanding watch this video.
Here are few commonly used front driveshaft options and their prices-
| Product | Price |
| Adams Driveshaft Jk Front 1310 Cv Driveshaft Greasable U-Joints | $539.95 |
| Adams Driveshaft Jk Front 1310 Cv Driveshaft Solid U-Joints with Pinion Yoke | $519.95 |
| Dana Spicer 1310 Series Front Drive Shaft | $449.99 |
| Tom Woods Rear 1310 Drive Shaft | $569.00 |
| Tom Woods Front 1350 Drive Shaft | $729.00 |
| Yukon Gear & Axle 1310 HD Front Drive Shaft | $714.99 |
Can you drive a Jeep Wrangler without the front driveshaft?
If you do not tow the vehicle, you will be fine. When the Jeep is parked, the T-case is lubricated by the movement of the front drive shaft. If you’re going towing, you’ll need to use a specific type of transmission and transfer case. without a front shaft your vehicle may vibrate.
Conclusion
The role of the drive shaft is critical when it comes to maneuvering your jeep. It’s essential that your drive shaft works properly. You should have your drive shaft checked and replaced as soon as you notice any problems. I did my best to provide you with all the necessary information and costs related to the drive shaft of your Jeep Wrangler.
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