Best U-joints
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Junior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 75
Likes: 1
From: Commerce Twp, MI
Best U-joints
What's the concensus on the different aftermarket U-joints. Are the Ford replacements the best, or are others as good or better. $50 at Ford vs. $15 at AutoZone is a big difference. NAPA has some heavy-duty ones at reasonable price.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 42,561
Likes: 423
From: Long Island USA
Try NAPA and see if you can get the Spicers. Open the box and look at the end caps - if they say Spicer, you're in!
Lots of NAPA stuff like differential bearings are Timken, in NAPA boxes. I got the entire set of bearings for a Ford 8.8" diff pretty cheap there.
Yes, Spicer is the "best" for stock-type u-joints.
In my '74 highboy, I used to put those cheapo u-joints in there for $15 when I first got it 20 years ago. They lasted until the first time I got mud on them or snow, no matter how many times I greased them.
Spicers, I could submerge them, get snow, water, ice, everything on them, and even without greasing they would last a few years.
It's all in the seals, and where the seal rides. The cheepos always failed because of water damage. The Spicers stayed dry for a LONG time before water got in there and ruined them again.
At least, that's my little story. YMMV.
BTW, I'm not saying there aren't STRONGER u-joints out there than Spicer, but for stock items, they are the strongest and last longer than the cheapos.
Haven't opened a Spicer box lately, but it used to be the Spicer seals would be blue, and the cheepos were black.
art k.
Lots of NAPA stuff like differential bearings are Timken, in NAPA boxes. I got the entire set of bearings for a Ford 8.8" diff pretty cheap there.
Yes, Spicer is the "best" for stock-type u-joints.
In my '74 highboy, I used to put those cheapo u-joints in there for $15 when I first got it 20 years ago. They lasted until the first time I got mud on them or snow, no matter how many times I greased them.
Spicers, I could submerge them, get snow, water, ice, everything on them, and even without greasing they would last a few years.
It's all in the seals, and where the seal rides. The cheepos always failed because of water damage. The Spicers stayed dry for a LONG time before water got in there and ruined them again.
At least, that's my little story. YMMV.
BTW, I'm not saying there aren't STRONGER u-joints out there than Spicer, but for stock items, they are the strongest and last longer than the cheapos.
Haven't opened a Spicer box lately, but it used to be the Spicer seals would be blue, and the cheepos were black.
art k.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 1,345
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From: NorCal
Go with Spicer or Neapco. If you go for the greaseable type, be sure to use red grease every oil change.
Be wary if you have a CV joint in your driveline.. I just had an issue with that going bad..
Be wary if you have a CV joint in your driveline.. I just had an issue with that going bad..
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