How stiff should a new ujoint be? I installed a new spider on the axle shafts for a Dana 44 IFS, and it seems awful stiff. One side went in very smoothly and its a bit less stiff then the side that was a pain to get in. All the old joints moved very freely. Will the new one just have to be "broken in"?
Thanks!

 

Once any U-joint is in place on the shaft and the lock clips are seated in, you should spread the caps apart by holding the slip yoke in one hand and rapping the shaft yoke right behind the caps on the shaft yoke with a ball pein hammer.This will spread open the shaft yoke caps. To spread the slip yoke caps,hold the slip yoke in one hand and rap the shaft yoke between it's caps on the thick iron near the welded portion of the tube. Be careful not to hit the tube, or caps themselves. After this is done, the joint will be much more flexible like you would expect.
Phillip

 

Wow, that worked great, its much better!
Thanks

 

Thanks for the reply dude ! It feels good to me whenever I get a positive thanks from the post. It makes up for all the negative ones I get. Once more, THANKS !
Phillip