Bad u joints
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Senior User
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Bad u joints
Ok did u joints on my truck 3 months ago. Other day herd the clicking when I backed up, so today I droped the shaft an took off one cap on the u joint an bingo no more needle bearings . All I have to say is moog can not make ujoints . This time I tryed the brute force ones from advanced auto. Has anyone used this brand?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2012
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We've used several brands of joints, both with and without grease zerks, and have noticed that most of them have hardly any grease in them. What grease is there, seems to be really thin, more like vasolene than grease. If using one without a zerk, we pack it with bearing grease, they seem to live a lot longer.
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Island Southeast Alaska
Great answer fordgirl. A lot better than what I was gonna say. Was gonna say.
Was gonna say.
Aww Hell I'll just say it. GREASE dude. I have never had a u joint or anything like that fail in three months. Please tell us that ya had a shop install them. Then go and shove it up there whatever. Always, ALWAYS pre lube u joints getting as much in as you can.
And I never buy one without a zerk in it. And if there is no way to get one with one
than a 5 buck drill bit and a 1/4 inch tap will fix that. The damn thing had to be
installed dry to only go that far.
Bud things like u joints, ball joints, tie rod ends, steering knuckles and any hi-wear thing like that needs maintenance periodically. As an equipment operator/Truck driver I pump grease every day and most times twice a day on some stuff. On my Bronco and other cars I grease everything up every two months or when ever I have reason to crawl under it. All mostly dirt roads here with water filled pot holes and water crossings just to get to the store. I Can and have got well over 70k miles from my rear joints. Maybe and prolly more. Whom ever installed yer joints
seen ya coming and needs there butt kicked. Almost sounds like they washed all
the lube out with solvent before installing to get ya to come back. Well I would damn sure go back.
Sorry
Merry Christmas.
Was gonna say.
Aww Hell I'll just say it. GREASE dude. I have never had a u joint or anything like that fail in three months. Please tell us that ya had a shop install them. Then go and shove it up there whatever. Always, ALWAYS pre lube u joints getting as much in as you can.
And I never buy one without a zerk in it. And if there is no way to get one with one
than a 5 buck drill bit and a 1/4 inch tap will fix that. The damn thing had to be
installed dry to only go that far.
Bud things like u joints, ball joints, tie rod ends, steering knuckles and any hi-wear thing like that needs maintenance periodically. As an equipment operator/Truck driver I pump grease every day and most times twice a day on some stuff. On my Bronco and other cars I grease everything up every two months or when ever I have reason to crawl under it. All mostly dirt roads here with water filled pot holes and water crossings just to get to the store. I Can and have got well over 70k miles from my rear joints. Maybe and prolly more. Whom ever installed yer joints
seen ya coming and needs there butt kicked. Almost sounds like they washed all
the lube out with solvent before installing to get ya to come back. Well I would damn sure go back.
Sorry
Merry Christmas.
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Senior User
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I did the install on the first set of joints , an I did grease them. I do grease all my suspension every month . I'll just have to see how long this brand last . It just seems anything I buy for my truck last, personally think it's the crap quality control in the product .
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2009
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From: Broken Arrow , OK
Whenever I install u joints I knock them in the yoke and before I put the straps on and install them I will tape the joint up so the caps cant come off. Then I pump it full of grease and I watch it come out of all 4 bearing caps. After that I take the tape off and install them. Get a grease needle. They make greasing U joints easy.
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2013
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Thx for the info Bruno. I was also wondering if my truck being a 4 speed make the truck eat threw u joints? I was just wondering
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Postmaster
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From: Broken Arrow , OK
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From: Virginia
Do you have a lift on this truck?
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Lost
We've used several brands of joints, both with and without grease zerks, and have noticed that most of them have hardly any grease in them. What grease is there, seems to be really thin, more like vasolene than grease. If using one without a zerk, we pack it with bearing grease, they seem to live a lot longer.
I always pack the caps with wheel bearing grease *before* installing (about 1/2 way full). This does 2 things, makes sure there is some grease in the caps, and reduces the chance of a needle falling over/out. Once installed, I grease them with a gun.
I simply will not use a "non-greaseable" type replacement joint. If that is the only option, break out a drill bit and add a zerk, either in the cross, or thru a cap, whichever option is required.
I don't like to do u-joints, and I certainly don't like to re-do u-joints......
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Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Virginia
You may find some heavy duty u-joints do not have grease fittings. The fitting and the passages for the grease make the u-joint weaker. It's a little trick some manufacturers used to use(I don't know if they still do) to make a "stronger" u-joint in the same package. Mainly off-road stuff though. Stock use joints would benefit from a grease fitting and regular greasing.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 4,575
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From: Broken Arrow , OK
Dana Spicer supposedly makes the toughest U joints in the business. They have grease fittings on them too. All the 4x4 guys swear by them. That's what I have on my F 250 and I haven't an issue in yrs. I haul heavy loads and pull heavy trailers almost daily.
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