Stiffness in new U-joint
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2004
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Its possible that the grease hasn't gotten between the needle bearings yet and is just a little "froze up" right now. Is it already installed up under the car? If you look closely some or most U. J.'s have a zerk fitting on it so that you would be able to grease it with a grease gun. When I buy replacement U.J.'s I look to see if they have zerk (grease Fittings). It is preventive maintenance in the long run. It is possible that there is little or no grease in the cap. I know it is a pain in the you know what, but you either need to look for the grease fitting and if it doesn't have one I would highly recommend removing it and going about it like I suggested. I've been down this road and learned the lesson the hard way. Let me know how it turns out.--Tim
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2006
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Originally Posted by bozzzz94
Its possible that the grease hasn't gotten between the needle bearings yet and is just a little "froze up" right now. Is it already installed up under the car? If you look closely some or most U. J.'s have a zerk fitting on it so that you would be able to grease it with a grease gun. When I buy replacement U.J.'s I look to see if they have zerk (grease Fittings). It is preventive maintenance in the long run. It is possible that there is little or no grease in the cap. I know it is a pain in the you know what, but you either need to look for the grease fitting and if it doesn't have one I would highly recommend removing it and going about it like I suggested. I've been down this road and learned the lesson the hard way. Let me know how it turns out.--Tim
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Mountain Pass
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I hauled out an old Haynes manual for a truck I don't have anymore and it said that if the ujoint is stiff after installing it to rap on the knuckles with a hammer to relieve tension from pressing them in. Worked like a charm!
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 4,452
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From: Southern California
After installing new U joints, the cups are almost always pressed in too far, causing them to bind a little. The trick is to rap it slightly in such a way that the cups are pushed out against the retainers. You might want to do that for all 4 cups.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Washington state
also, sometimes putting the grease gun on and shooting some grease in under pressure blows the caps back out against the locks and seats them where they are supposed to be.
use only a high temp synthetic based moly grease spec'd for u joints, makes them last much longer...just enough to make the seals start to move...no long strings of grease hanging out.
use only a high temp synthetic based moly grease spec'd for u joints, makes them last much longer...just enough to make the seals start to move...no long strings of grease hanging out.
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Mountain Pass
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Originally Posted by 96_4wdr
use only a high temp synthetic based moly grease spec'd for u joints, makes them last much longer...just enough to make the seals start to move...no long strings of grease hanging out.
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Aw crap! I used Country Crock! (but it was churn style)
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Copper is correct about cups being driven in too far. they must be tapped back against the c clip.
The joint should feel completely free with no binding. Shooting grease into a binding joint will have no effect.
Ken
The joint should feel completely free with no binding. Shooting grease into a binding joint will have no effect.
Ken
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