Thank you Jesus (u-joint)

June 12, 2018, 03:45 PM

Tom396

I am way luckier than I deserve to be. This is just the most recent example.

I was going into my differential to change out the gears. I pulled the driveshaft, in the process. As I did the caps slipped off the rear universal joint, as I was sliding the shaft forward. Not a big deal, it happens. Then I happened to really look inside those caps. I didn't remember putting some sort of odd style/color grease in them. Most of the rollers had basically been reduced to powdered steel. I sure hadn't noticed it. Again, thank you Jesus. Take care. Tom Worthington

June 12, 2018, 04:05 PM

imakehp

The one thing I don't like about hi-perf u-joints is one of the ways they make them stronger is eliminating the grease fitting. Unfortunately that also precludes you from regular maintenance/lubing of the joint.
I feel the strength(or weakness) isn't an issue if you install the u-joint so it's compressing the fitting hole under acceleration rather then trying to open it.
And I agree, that was a VERY lucky catch. Go buy some lottery tickets lol.

June 12, 2018, 04:42 PM

Tom396

quote:
Originally posted by imakehp:
The one thing I don't like about hi-perf u-joints is one of the ways they make them stronger is eliminating the grease fitting. Unfortunately that also precludes you from regular maintenance/lubing of the joint.
I feel the strength(or weakness) isn't an issue if you install the u-joint so it's compressing the fitting hole under acceleration rather then trying to open it.
And I agree, that was a VERY lucky catch. Go buy some lottery tickets lol.

I didn't buy a set of these, this time around, but I have spotted some that place the grease fitting on the end of the cap. Sounds like a pretty good idea. Take care. Tom Worthington

June 12, 2018, 05:00 PM

Mike Beck

Count your blessings!

I replaced my front slip yoke one year and the roller tailshaft housing on the trans. Didn't like the way it looked. Well, I wasn't thrilled with the "feel" of the retainer clip on one of the caps when I put it together, but it was in there and seemed stuck pretty good.

Hmmmmm........ On about the 6th pass later in the burnout box all he!! broke loose! I thought the crank came out of the engine! The little shiny thing I saw rolling towards my wife at the starting line was that u-joint cap! That was over a $3k mistake.....

Lucky it happened there and not down track somewhere.

June 12, 2018, 05:39 PM

imakehp

quote:
Originally posted by Tom396:
quote:
Originally posted by imakehp:
The one thing I don't like about hi-perf u-joints is one of the ways they make them stronger is eliminating the grease fitting. Unfortunately that also precludes you from regular maintenance/lubing of the joint.
I feel the strength(or weakness) isn't an issue if you install the u-joint so it's compressing the fitting hole under acceleration rather then trying to open it.
And I agree, that was a VERY lucky catch. Go buy some lottery tickets lol.

I didn't buy a set of these, this time around, but I have spotted some that place the grease fitting on the end of the cap. Sounds like a pretty good idea. Take care. Tom Worthington

Just make sure the fitting is/was in place when when balancing the driveshaft ....a couple of grams can turn into lbs @ 7000rpm

June 12, 2018, 06:41 PM

Tom396

quote:
Originally posted by Mike Beck:
Count your blessings!

I replaced my front slip yoke one year and the roller tailshaft housing on the trans. Didn't like the way it looked. Well, I wasn't thrilled with the "feel" of the retainer clip on one of the caps when I put it together, but it was in there and seemed stuck pretty good.

Hmmmmm........ On about the 6th pass later in the burnout box all he!! broke loose! I thought the crank came out of the engine! The little shiny thing I saw rolling towards my wife at the starting line was that u-joint cap! That was over a $3k mistake.....

Lucky it happened there and not down track somewhere.

I gave up awhile back. I can't count that high.

Take care. Tom Worthington

June 12, 2018, 06:44 PM

Tom396

quote:
Originally posted by imakehp:
Just make sure the fitting is/was in place when when balancing the driveshaft ....a couple of grams can turn into lbs @ 7000rpm

Good point, I hadn't thought of that. I just bought the conventional (no grease fitting) ones this time. Oddly enough, the local Advance Auto Parts store had a pair in stock. But hey, that is the kind of luck I usually have.

Take care. Tom Worthington

June 12, 2018, 07:52 PM

green1

I lost in the finals one week and decided to take the 4.56 gears out and out 4.10 back in and after complete tear down I reached up in pinion area of my Dana to see if any chims laying up there and came out with a ring gear tooth I didn’t know was missing.