Front U-joints??

[_92_SPORT_]

So today I was doin some cruising through a buddys field and after I noticed some vibration from the front of the vehcile with the hubs in the locked position. I unlocked them and it still seemed it was still there. Left the vehicle for about an hour drove it and it seemed the vibration was gone with hubs free and in 2wd. Once I got home i checked the front end out and found that the middle u-joint and the passenger side u-joint had some play in them. Middle with the most.

I do have a second parts explorer with the whole front end in tack and was wondering if it is easier to go and replace the u-joints and seals. Or to do a axle swap from the parts explorer. Which ever is easier could somebody give me some sort of step by step or a link to thread that could explain it to me please!!

By the way this is on a 1992 Explorer 4x4 two door.

 

[MrShorty]

Personally, I see u-joints somewhat as a wear item. As such, even if it was a little easier to swap out the entire axle, I wouldn't recommend it unless you knew that the u-joints in the donor axle were nearly new.

The outer u-joints are pretty easy to do, as long as the spindle separates easily from the steering knuckle. The inner u-joint on the passenger shaft requires either some creative work to change it in situ or dropping the pumpkin to remove the C-clip inside the differential. Having never done it, I can't say with any real authority that replacing the entire axle is easier, but I don't see a lot of people choosing to replace the entire axle rather than the u-joint so I'm tending to think it is not significantly easier to replace the entire axle.