Competition Greasable u-joints... bad?

[sparks57]

You guys that pull sleds, are you running u-joints with zerks or not?



I've heard zerk-greasable joints are weaker... is this an issue?



Also, does anyone have an opinion on the first gen u-joints? How do they compare to the newer trucks? Would upgrading them to a bigger size be a good idea if one wanted to pull sleds with a first gen?



Thanks guys.

 

[mfunderburgh]

Dont run the greasable u-joints. I put one in last year for a pull because that was all that i could get a hold of the day of the pull. Lets just say it didn't make it through the pull. It shatered in half and the point of breakage was right where the zerk was inserted. This was on my front driveshaft. Today i hopefully fixed the problem by getting a new front drive shaft set up with the 1410 u joints($500). I need to get the rear shaft fixed over to the 1480 u joints but i need to get a good price. Someone told me to expect to pay $800. :{ Matt

 

[drrhoades]

Did you make sure that the u-joint was put in with the zerk loaded in compression? If the u-joint was put in with the zerk in tension then you are just asking for trouble with all of the torque these engines put out.



Doug

 

[F8LDOSE]

how about a solid billet chromoly U-joint, Use stock caps, no grease just antiseize every now and then. Local guy makes them in any size, they WILL NOT break!

 

[Will24]

drhoades, exactly what I was thinking...



-Will

 

[HoleshotHolset]

F8LDOSE said: "no grease just antiseize every now and then"



How do you get the never-seize in there? Do you have to take the joint out every time you want to lube it?



Matt

 

[F8LDOSE]

Matt, to run on the street, i would take them apart and relube every now and then, the needle bearings are taken out and not used at all. I know guys with pull only trucks who have used them for over three years and don't bother to do anything to them. But to answer your question yes you gotta take them out, a PITA, yeah, but just another thing to do to keep from breaking i guess...

 

[HoleshotHolset]

No needle bearings... interesting.



If they hold that good, then I guess the labor is worth it...



Matt

 

[AWM]

some of the aftermarket front axle u-joints have the zerk on the out side of the cap, if you coulf find a source for that type of zerk fitting (they only stick out about 1/8 of an inch), you could drill the caps and install those, shouldn't weaken the u-joint any, just a thought, Bob

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Bob,



Those fittings are great, but you'd have to drill/tap every cap... or you'll only lube that one cap. Joints that don't have the 'lube galleries' in them won't allow you to grease every cap with just one fitting.



Matt