i removed my front driveshaft the other day so that i could remove the encoder motor because im switching to manual 4x4 but when i popped the front of the shaft outta the yoke two lil caps fell off and all these lil stick and ball bearings fell out how big of an issue is this

should i just put the caps back on and go with it or what?

by the way its a 98 blazer ls with a 3 button 4x4 switch

 

Those are the needle bearings for the u-joint. If you do not find them all, the joint will fail. They have to be in there fairly tight to do their job properly. I used to know how many were in each cup for most of the common u-joint sizes, but I can't remember that stuff anymore. LOL

 

once again thank you very much! but they all fell out not sure if i can find more should i just get another shaft? cause if they fell off that easy then they must have been failing to begin with thanks again for all your input

 

New u joints are about $20, as long as you are there do it! if you can find them all, you can clean everything very well and hold them in place with grease.

 

It would be worth replacing the entire 'U' joint. Any Auto Parts store will have the Joint. If the caps fell off and dropped needle bearings all over, that is a sign the Joint was dry anyway. A vise and a Sledge hamer can be used to replace it if you don't have teh 'C' clamp press

You need to ask for the Joint for the Front of the Drive shaft.

Search the web for how to change a 'U' Joint. It's not hard

http://www.myjeepxj.com/cherokee-rep...nt-replacement

 

Thanks so much tony BIG help
i also found one specific to chevy blazer here:

http://www.ehow.com/how_4882887_chan...vy-blazer.html

you guys are the bomb thanks again