Jeep has made different types of drive shafts over the years. The type present in your Jeep Grand Cherokee depends on the year model. The type of drive shaft present in the Jeep Grand Cherokee determines if your car has Universal joints or Constant Velocity joints. The 1999 and newer Jeep Grand Cherokees use the Type 3 drive shaft with enclosed CV joints. Replacing the drive shaft is required when the CV joints are bad.
Disconnect the negative battery cable.
Shift the transmission into neutral. Apply the parking brake.
Position a brick or block of wood behind the front wheels. Lift the rear of the Cherokee with a jack. Place a jack stand under the frame on each side of the vehicle. Lower the jack.
Place a flathead screwdriver through the drive shaft yoke. Loosen the flange bolts with a wrench. Remove the bolts from the drive shaft.
Lower the rear of the drive shaft. Remove the front of the drive shaft from the transmission.
Put the front of the drive shaft in the transmission opening. Lift the rear of the drive shaft into position .Install new straps and bolts with the wrench.
Raise the vehicle with a jack. Remove the jack stands. Lower the car with the jack. Remove the brick or block of wood.
Place the transmission in park. Release the parking brake.
Measure the distance from the CV joint cup to the end of the CV joint boot with the vehicle on the ground. The required space is 5 1/2 inches. Loosen the lock nut on the drive shaft with a socket and ratchet. Move one end of the drive shaft in or out of the transmission until the correct spacing between the cup and boot is achieved.
