Eomund Posted May 30, 2016 Report Share Posted May 30, 2016 So went to change out my U-Joints and one was flat out broken: Yaaaaa, really broken. No Needle Bearings. Unfortunately it has been like this for a while apparently and chipped my flange: Long and short, I now have a classified ad out for this part. http://community.ratsun.net/classifieds/item/7422-want-to-buy-datsun-driveshaft-yolk-flange/ Just an advisory. If you haven't checked them at all, might want to think about it. 1 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted May 30, 2016 Report Share Posted May 30, 2016 Not only chipped but ground away on the near side too. 1 Quote Link to comment
Eomund Posted May 30, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2016 Ya, I noticed that. I can't think of anything that would do that. It's on the inside too. I'm wondering if someone ground it down for some idiotic reason or another. Where it's worn down is fairly smooth. Thankfully the rest are fine. Was hoping to be able to drive my truck tomorrow. Unfortunately not now. If anyone has a source outside of the classifieds (eBay or possible some shop or another), please let me know. I did check and using both google and ebay and came up with goose egg. 1 Quote Link to comment
Scgreen620 Posted May 30, 2016 Report Share Posted May 30, 2016 That's nothing mine were so bad they were becoming like cones 1 Quote Link to comment
MikeRL411 Posted May 30, 2016 Report Share Posted May 30, 2016 You may well find that if you can find a replacement set there might be one difference. The original U Joints had the grease nipples as part of the central "spider" minimizing balance problems. Replacement U Joints will probably have the grease nipples on the far end of one of the arms. Whether this has been accounted for in the machining of the body to preserve balance is an unknown item. Also, be sure the so called replacement is sized for the C clip recess that the early drive shaft U Joint spider arms had, not some press fit version. Rockauto is your best first shot at getting a proper replacement! 1 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted May 30, 2016 Report Share Posted May 30, 2016 When the housing for the U joint is this bad it makes me wonder why the vibration was ignored. These are precision made and balanced. Any looseness moves the driveshaft off center, and that's a lot of spinning mass. 1 Quote Link to comment
thisismatt Posted May 30, 2016 Report Share Posted May 30, 2016 Grease your kingpins while you're at it. Chances are they're already dry and grinding themselves to sloppy dust, too. 1 Quote Link to comment
Eomund Posted May 30, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2016 When the housing for the U joint is this bad it makes me wonder why the vibration was ignored. These are precision made and balanced. Any looseness moves the driveshaft off center, and that's a lot of spinning mass. It wasnt vibrating actually. The second it started vibrating, I got her home and shut her down. Ive actually had the u-joints purchased for a few months now planning to do it too. If id known they were this screwed, would have done it when I bought the truck, Quote Link to comment
Eomund Posted May 30, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2016 Grease your kingpins while you're at it. Chances are they're already dry and grinding themselves to sloppy dust, too. I rebuilt the whole steering system when I go the truck, including greasing the king pins. Everything in the steering was so sloppy, I was afraid something was loose or missing, so i replaced and lubed everything I could. The king pins arent perfect, unfortunately. But they arent in any danger of breaking, and the truck tracks super straight. I will want to replace them one day down the road when I can afford it. Quote Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.