U-Joint replacement schedule!
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Post Fiend
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From: Sarnia, Ontario, CANADA!
U-Joint replacement schedule!
At work we have 2 plow trucks: a 1979 Ford Bronco and a 1987 Ford 250 4x4. These are used every winter for plowing snow. They are the only 2 trucks and down time is not a good thing. We bought a snow plowing business from a local guy and part of the sale was the Bronco. He only used the Bronco. He said he replaced his u-joints every 2 years no matter what. This truck was ONLY used for plowing. When he told me that I thought, what are you smoking. That was until today. At the BEGINNING of our plow run we broke a u-joint in the front driver's side. The driveshaft was all chewed up. So, my dad had to plow 4 inches of heavy wet snow in 2 wheel drive. Didn't work very well. Anyways....for these trucks how often would you replace the u-joints? The Bronco is only used for plowing and the F-250 is used for plowing in the winter and towing a trailer in the summer. Should we replace the u-joints every year just to be safe? What u-joints would you recommend? I would like something that has a grease nipple so that after every plow I can grease them to get the water and crap out. Thanks.
-Matt
-Matt
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Replacing those u-joints will get tiresome every year.....why did the u-joint fail?? Was there plenty of grease in the bearings? They make greasable u-joints, so you might look into a set.
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Post Fiend
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They were greased. The truck is used to plow snow so it gets quite a bit of abuse. That's why I was thinking replacing them every year or two. The ujoint that failed has been on the truck for 1.5--2 years. The ujoints are greased at every oil change as well as every 3 or 4 plowings.
-Matt
-Matt
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Post Fiend
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From: Sarnia, Ontario, CANADA!
Originally posted by 85351ho
i agree, spicer life series are the way to go
what size tires are on the bronc?
i agree, spicer life series are the way to go
what size tires are on the bronc?
-Matt
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It its all stock, I'd go with the Spicer 5-760X U-Joints at around $22 each and it take 3 of them. The CTMs etc. are very very strong but at $199 each doesn't make much since on a stock Bronco, plus it may cause you to break the inner axle when towing.
Last edited by rlh; Jan 29, 2004 at 10:31 AM.
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Post Fiend
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From: Sarnia, Ontario, CANADA!
Originally posted by rlh
It its all stock, I'd go with the Spicer 5-760X U-Joints at around $22 each and it take 3 of them. The CTMs etc. are very very strong but at $199 each doesn't make much since on a stock jeep, plus it may cause you to break the inner axle when towing.
It its all stock, I'd go with the Spicer 5-760X U-Joints at around $22 each and it take 3 of them. The CTMs etc. are very very strong but at $199 each doesn't make much since on a stock jeep, plus it may cause you to break the inner axle when towing.
I said B-R-O-N-C-O-! Anyways....I think the truck has 8 or 9 u-joints in it. It has the split drive-shaft that has one part that goes straight our of the transfer case then bends down towards the back differential. I don't know what they are called.-Matt
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There are 3 joints in the axles, in the front driveshaft and 3 in the rear drive shaft. The rear isn't really a 2 piece its a Cardan in the Bronco and has a slip yoke with a dust boot over it. The Cardan joint also has a centering ball in it that is a PITA. I just rebuilt my rear shaft this past weekend.
Use Spicer 1330 life series Joints in the Shafts and 5-760X in the axles (You did say you broke one on the front driver' side).
Another option on the driveshafts is to upgrade with a custom shafts that use Spicer 1350 series U-Joints. If you end up buying a rear shaft, there are some custom shafts in the same price range as a New cardan shaft (~$210-$270).
First, figure out what joints are in there . . . if they are Neapco or japanese, the spicers should last longer.
P.S. I was jerking your chain . . . the only rig I've seen eat joints that fast was a jeep.
Use Spicer 1330 life series Joints in the Shafts and 5-760X in the axles (You did say you broke one on the front driver' side).
Another option on the driveshafts is to upgrade with a custom shafts that use Spicer 1350 series U-Joints. If you end up buying a rear shaft, there are some custom shafts in the same price range as a New cardan shaft (~$210-$270).
First, figure out what joints are in there . . . if they are Neapco or japanese, the spicers should last longer.
P.S. I was jerking your chain . . . the only rig I've seen eat joints that fast was a jeep.
Last edited by rlh; Jan 29, 2004 at 10:46 AM.
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Post Fiend
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From: Sarnia, Ontario, CANADA!
I don't know what joints are in there now. The other guy had them put in. I was just thinking about maybe replacing the joints every year or 2 because that way we would for sure be safe. Plus, it also gives me time to take the front hubs apart and get them all cleaned up for winter. Keep the ideas coming.
-Matt
P.S. rlh, I see you went back and editted your post. HA! That's funny!
-Matt
P.S. rlh, I see you went back and editted your post. HA! That's funny!
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