Broken U joints
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Broken U joints
I know this isnt necessarily an offroading question, but I figured who would know more about breaking parts and how to keep parts from breaking then you guys. I have a 69 F250 ranger with 35 inch BFG all terrains, a 351M motor, an NP435 tranny, and a divorced Dana Tcase. Yesterday I tore up my third universal at the yoke on the Tcase where the driveshaft from the tranny hooks up. Each time it happened the same way it either blew part or the whole way out of one side of the joint at the U bolt, and each time this happened it has been the same yoke. The first time I was just doing normal driving, the second time was after a few hours of wheeling and the third time was on the highway. I also have been having issues with the Tcase popping into neutral while im driving. Does anyone have any input on what may be causing this. Sorry for the long post.
Thanks
Thanks
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 9,236
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From: Senoia, GA
well you can tighten up your shifter a lil bit by gettin under the truck and puttin your hand on top where the shift rails go into the case. you should feel a round indention and a hex head inside the indention. if these bolts are loose you can tighten them up and it tightens up the shift a lil bit.
now the ujoint thing i'm not really sure about. you apparently have a divocred t-case with an intermediate shaft. have you tried installing new joints and then sliding the t-case forward a lil bit to keep the joint pushed into the yoke? or is it a slip shaft design? where are you breaking the joints? are you splitting the cross in half? shattering the caps? ever lose a yoke?
-cutts-
now the ujoint thing i'm not really sure about. you apparently have a divocred t-case with an intermediate shaft. have you tried installing new joints and then sliding the t-case forward a lil bit to keep the joint pushed into the yoke? or is it a slip shaft design? where are you breaking the joints? are you splitting the cross in half? shattering the caps? ever lose a yoke?
-cutts-
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Junior User
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Thanks for the tip on the adjusting the Tcase Ill give that a try.
The driveshaft is a slip shaft. The damage to the universals has been the same each time the end caps have been broken up and underneath the universal is worn off almost to nothing but only on one of the four points.
The driveshaft is a slip shaft. The damage to the universals has been the same each time the end caps have been broken up and underneath the universal is worn off almost to nothing but only on one of the four points.
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,711
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From: Pittsburgh
I'm going to agree with the yoke having a good chance of being fubar. Either that or when you're installing the U-bolts over the caps you're cranking them down WAY too tight and distorting the caps causing them to wear very quickly. The nuts are only supposed to be tightened down to around 15 foot pounds. much more than that and you can run into issues.
Justin
Justin
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Joined: Sep 2000
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From: Oregon
Originally Posted by hoxiii
Either that or when you're installing the U-bolts over the caps you're cranking them down WAY too tight and distorting the caps causing them to wear very quickly.
Post Fiend
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From: Coutts Canada
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Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Golden, CO
It's all good! But, the imbalance associated with a worn slip yoke should be noticeable. Does the truck shake and rattle a lot anyway?
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Atlanta GA
to add to hwat has been said.
Changing your driveshaft angle AND length when using a slip joint driveshaft is not good and can lead to UJ failure. Since you are running 35s, I would -assume- you had to put in a lift kit though if you just added 35s, that would be enough of a change on the angle and length. Your slip joint may not be engaging enough of the spline to avoid slop.
re:torque
If you tighten the straps too much you can deform the cap and prevent the needle bearings from working properly. Though the strap usually breaks if it is 1/4 thread. As mentioned I would think maybe the first failure deformed the yoke and has lead to #2 and #3. I would take the driveshaft, put it on a flat surface, put a straight edge on top of it, and measure to see if it was warped on any of the four sides. You might need the complete slip yoke for this.
Changing your driveshaft angle AND length when using a slip joint driveshaft is not good and can lead to UJ failure. Since you are running 35s, I would -assume- you had to put in a lift kit though if you just added 35s, that would be enough of a change on the angle and length. Your slip joint may not be engaging enough of the spline to avoid slop.
re:torque
If you tighten the straps too much you can deform the cap and prevent the needle bearings from working properly. Though the strap usually breaks if it is 1/4 thread. As mentioned I would think maybe the first failure deformed the yoke and has lead to #2 and #3. I would take the driveshaft, put it on a flat surface, put a straight edge on top of it, and measure to see if it was warped on any of the four sides. You might need the complete slip yoke for this.