U-Joint Longevity

[biggy238]

How long do your U-joints usually last (in miles) at elevated horsepower levels, and what style of driving? I'd like to exclude sled pullers since they like to pop them, but if your truck just occassionally sees sled time, leave feedback. Also, if you run replacement joints, what brand/parts store are you using?





I think I have about 50K on mine, 20 or so with a 10 plate and One of mine (atleast) is trying it's best to come apart.





It just hit me that any amount of torque USED :-laf is going to cut down on Joint life, But by how much???

 

[JCasper]

My center rear joint went out at 52K. Stock power. I got my Smarty 2 days before it was completely gone.

 

[TBartlett1]

How long do your U-joints usually last (in miles) at elevated horsepower levels, and what style of driving? I'd like to exclude sled pullers since they like to pop them, but if your truck just occassionally sees sled time, leave feedback. Also, if you run replacement joints, what brand/parts store are you using?





I think I have about 50K on mine, 20 or so with a 10 plate and One of mine (atleast) is trying it's best to come apart.





It just hit me that any amount of torque USED :-laf is going to cut down on Joint life, But by how much???

I have a 1990 w250 4x4 diesel with original rear joints greased with moly fortified grease every 3 to 6K miles and it has towed 20,000 lbs in very mountainous terrain (1st and 2nd gear)

Do your ujoints have grease fittings if so how frequent do you grease and what type of grease do you use?

 

[TBartlett1]

I have a 1990 w250 4x4 diesel with original rear joints greased with moly fortified grease every 3 to 6K miles and it has towed 20,000 lbs in very mountainous terrain (1st and 2nd gear)

Do your ujoints have grease fittings if so how frequent do you grease and what type of grease do you use?

Opps forgot to say I have 235K miles on them!

 

[BarryG]

I have 193k on my driveline u-joints so far. I had to replace my ball joints last fall so I went ahead and changed the ones on the front outer axles and even they were still in decent shape.

I would consider my driving style moderate or even conservative. A lot of highway miles on them.

 

[biggy238]

I think the factory joints on my truck had nearly 180K on them...



Kinda makes a compelling arguement for using factory joints.





I didn't grease the aftermarket joints initially, which I know now is what caused my problem, but i'm really more after the affect that power has on them rather than misinstallation.





I have greased these joints at roughly 20,000 apart and twice this month to keep the bad joint alive slightly longer.



I use Shell Alvania EP2



And as I said before, I know i have hastened the demise of my joints, but I just have wondered how much of it was my driving style, hard launches in intersections and short bursts. All out drag racing. Just serious torque application. I just theorized that eventually the power would take it's toll and cut down on Ujoint Life.