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Would you recommend SOLID U-Joints?

Old Jul 31, 2010 | 11:30 PM
  #1  
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From: Brentwood, CA
Would you recommend SOLID U-Joints?

I have '73 F100 with a big block that I primarily use for sand dunes. It seems that every dune trip I end up breaking a u-joint in the front D44. It's usually caused by a cap cracking. I only use the Dana/Spicer joints, but they still break on me. A few companies like Yukon, CTM and OX make solid u-joints, that don't have rollers and are said to be really strong. That might solve my problem, but I don't know if they are only intended for rock crawling/slow speed (low friction, low heat) applications or if they would work for my type of wheeling too.

Is anybody using these? Think they'll solve my problem.

Thanks!
Ben
 
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Old Aug 1, 2010 | 12:23 PM
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They should work if you use a moly-graphite grease in them and maintain them properly. You really should replace the axle shafts as well, since they typically get damaged by a trashed universal and can cause later joints to fail much sooner than they should.
 
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Old Aug 6, 2010 | 03:39 AM
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Most systems have some sort of engineered weak spot. If its your u-joints that fail now and you upgrade to bulletproof solid pieces, then your weak link may end up being your axle shaft, driveshaft, transmission input or output shaft, or a whole host of other bigger, more expensive parts. I use cheap u-joints so I can keep a stock of them in the truck. That way I can control what part breaks when I'm out having fun. That way i'm more confident I won't snap another axle shaft, locking hub, or driveshaft. If you can count on your u-joints failing, it sounds like you have a well engineered truck, IMO
 
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Old Aug 6, 2010 | 10:06 AM
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If just the cap cracked that would have nothing to do with the strength of the u joint body.The grease hole through the u joint has nothing to do with your problem. I'd start looking into getting a Dana 60.
 
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