D@#$ u-joints!!

[realsquash]

I guess to a stock they will BUT our trucks have more torque than a average truck does. If you ever plan on adding more power it WILL be a issue. Do you really want to find out the hard way and in the wrong place in the middle of no where?I belive the drive lines are pretty much the same too.

No, it really isn't as big of a deal as you make it seem. I have had my EZ set to 4 and my foot is always planted and I have yet to frag a u-joint. I think you're just a bit paranoid.



Andy

 

[DPelletier]

A couple of thoughts;



- Non greaseable joints are stronger than greaseable ones because of the cross-drilling. Are greaseable joints strong enough for 600 ft lbs? I would guess it depends on useage, but what I will say is that I've busted a couple with an L-72 427/450hp BBC in a GTO. I switched to TRW solid joints and it was the end of the problem.



- If you wanted the very best you'd have to use the non-greasable joints, repack them with a good grease (as 4Xquadrod) has suggested and then take them out and re-grease them every year or two. Yes, a big pain in the butt.



- I dunno about getting 300,000 - 400,000 miles out of a U-Joint. I've never even had a truck with anywhere near that mileage, yet I've replaced plenty of u-joints (even greaseable ones on Fords, GM's and Dodges). Personally, if I get 60,000 mi out of my U-joints, I'll be satisfied; If I get 100,000, I'll be impressed.



Dave

 

[BRayls]

I don't know about snapping them, I guess I will find out. my guess would be that the truck will not hook the power up enough to snap the joint. Dave was the bbc goat hooking up pretty good when the joint broke? maybe just the poncho crying because it had a chevy in it. :-laf

 

[Snow man]

Just my 2cents, with working around modded trucks/cars my entire life,anyone running the greaseable joints with big power is on borrowed time. If you drive like grandpa you should be fine,but why take a chance?These trucks make serious torque, I wouldnt chance the truck spitting out the driveshaft somewhere and at who knows how fast. A driveshaft usually does hundreds,if not thousands worth of damage before it falls out from under the truck. the Yoke, fuel tank, trans,t-case,brake cables,and lines,and thats nothing comapred to what can happen if it snaps up front and acts as a lever as it comes around. This is an area where I would take no chances.

 

[DPelletier]

BRayls,

Yeah the GTO was hooking up pretty good! and in all fairness, the car was driven hard; many launches and lots of shifting at 7800 RPM! I think the greasable joints will be fine unless you purposely try to wreck them and I agree you would likely break traction with most tires before you'd kill the u-joint. I was just trying to point out that in the quest for more longevity, we may be making a compromise on strength; but you're right, it probably won't break anyway.

On the other hand, I can't help but think that there is a lot of stress on a u-joint if I were to take 600 ft lbs and dump the clutch in first with the DRW's. Luckily, I don't make it a habit of doing that!



Cheers,

Dave

 

[Mad Bomber]

U Joints

thats nothing comapred to what can happen if it snaps up front and acts as a lever as it comes around. This is an area where I would take no chances.

I've seen this happen at 70 MPH NOT A PRETTY SITE

 

[Mad Bomber]

U - Joints

BRayls,



On the other hand, I can't help but think that there is a lot of stress on a u-joint if I were to take 600 ft lbs and dump the clutch in first

Cheers,

Dave

Yea then you add more power and 1K of torque. I can break my tires loose in 4 gears. Even in 4th at 40MPH all on dry pavement.

 

[Big_H316]

I'm sure glad there are some grease-type u-joints available for these trucks. As far as the zerk hole making them weak, I wouldn't worry about it because most all 18-wheelers have zerks on the u-joints and they're running anywhere from 1600-2000 ft-lb of torque and they are trouble free. What parts store carries the ac/delcos?

 

[SOLER]

I'm sure glad there are some grease-type u-joints available for these trucks. As far as the zerk hole making them weak, I wouldn't worry about it because most all 18-wheelers have zerks on the u-joints and they're running anywhere from 1600-2000 ft-lb of torque and they are trouble free. What parts store carries the ac/delcos?

Have you seen the size of them, though? They are almost twice the size of what we have.



SOLER

 

[realsquash]

Come on guys! Greaseable joints are not going to fail in these trucks in 99. 999% of conditions. The joints I put in are much beefier than the stockers, too. 1480 joints are huge.



1350's have been able to handle a LOT of torque for a long time. And you have to remember that while the Cummins has a lot of low-end torque it's not able to produce the shock load that a 450hp GTO launching does.



Until this year Dodge didn't put 1480's on driveshafts. Why do you think they are on the 1-piece driveshafts and they only put 1350's on the two-piece? Let's speculate, it's fun!



Andy

 

[BRayls]

well after a week of waiting , I am told sat. for sure monday afternoon. I go in today only to be told they discontinued the part number . this was a new part number why the need to discontinue?? I will be checking into this but dubt I find out why.

 

[rbattelle]

well after a week of waiting , I am told sat. for sure monday afternoon. I go in today only to be told they discontinued the part number . this was a new part number why the need to discontinue?? I will be checking into this but dubt I find out why.

Well that stinks.



You know, with so many people wanting aftermarket super-strong U-Joints with greasable fittings a smart talented machinist could make a good buck building his own to sell to us. Hmmm... JHardwick, are you listening?