exposed u-joint on john deere xuv 850d

iowacorn · Nov 5, 2010

running the xuv in a picked cornfield, we came back in the yard and realized that the rubber boot that covers the u-joint of the front wheel shaft was torn and exposed the u-joint. apparently one of the stalks jammed into it and ripped it.now, it looks to me like an all day job to disconnect that u-joint to put a new boot on it..
does anyone have any ideas how i can cover that u-joint with taking it all apart??
thank you for your time and information

SpudHauler · Nov 5, 2010

IowaCorn,
If that boot covers a sealed u-joint, yes you can patch it up somehow and continue. BUT, if there is grease in the boot, that means it is now exposed and dirt and water will quickly destroy it and anything else it can. Very expensive. So fix it now while it its still just a torn boot. :thumbsup:

iowacorn · Nov 6, 2010

THANKS, SPUD...I'M GOING TO HAVE TO GO FIND A BOOT THAT HAS A FULL WRAP... DON'T REALLY KNOW WHERE TO LOOK FOR ONE, BUT I'LL START LOOKING.THANKS AGAIN.

TOMMYHPX4X4 · Nov 6, 2010

that boot repair will ony cost you about 25.00 it's simple to change and will take less than an hour.don't drive it til you fix it any kinda sand or debree that gets in that joint and it's gonna chem them bearing up in no time. i had to change one out one time on my hpx and it was about 400.00 i had to buy the whole shaft because it was a 1 piece setup.

iowacorn · Nov 7, 2010

wow... thanks, tommy... i can swing the 25 bucks easy enuf... i'll check the deere dealer tomorrow and see if i can get one..possibly he can give me some tips on changing it.
appreciate it, tommy!

TOMMYHPX4X4 · Nov 7, 2010

no problem i figure 25.00 is better than 400.00 i sold my hpx a year or so ago .i don't know if the xuv has a double a-arm or a strut but either way it's just a few bolts and the hub comes right off.you might be able to just disconnect the shock and let the a-arms slowley come down and then work the shaft out . the shaft might feel like it's locked in there but thats just the c-clips holding it a good tap with a board or hammer and it will come loose. oh one more thing you might wanna get 2 more new c-clips to put the shaft back in never use the old c-clips another thing is go to autozone and get a cv boot clamp kit they are 5.00 so you can secure the other boot back on don't use the old boot clamp it's not worth the time and money to put the old ones back on.

iowacorn · Nov 7, 2010

THANKS AGAIN, TOMMY..WILL GET THE BOOT AT THE DEERE DEALER.. IF I HAVE PROBLEMS, I'LL PESTER YA AGAIN..HAVE A GOOD ONE!!

TOMMYHPX4X4 · Nov 7, 2010

glad to be of help to ya..

iowacorn · Nov 25, 2010

thanks to spud and tommy, i took the xuv into the deere dealer for then to replace the boot on the front drive shaft on the xuv... there are two boots on that drive shaft.. they replaced both of them cuz you have to take them both off to fix the bad boot.they repacked both of them and replaced the holding rings on both of them..
this education has taught me what a '' cv-joint is...had never heard of it... duh....
at any rate, got it fixed .. my deepest thanks for all the help... this group is a definite asset to all of us '' no nothings''