re-greasing rear half shaft u-joints
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,532
Likes: 4
From: Fairview Heights Illinois, near Saint Louis MO, STL C3 Shark
re-greasing rear half shaft u-joints
I plan on re-greasing my half-shaft Ujoints for the first time since I bought the car this last summer. Is it as simple of a job as I think it will be?
1) remove the straps that hold the Ujoint to the side yoke
2) do same for the outer flange (near spindle)
3) remove half shaft
4) re-grease them (I can't reach the zerts without removing it
)
5) reverse process to re-install them
Doesn't seem like too much of a project, but something will likely not work just right......
Jeremy
1) remove the straps that hold the Ujoint to the side yoke
2) do same for the outer flange (near spindle)
3) remove half shaft
4) re-grease them (I can't reach the zerts without removing it
)5) reverse process to re-install them
Doesn't seem like too much of a project, but something will likely not work just right......
Jeremy
Last edited by ruby76; Feb 25, 2005 at 01:49 PM. Reason: mad smiley
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,269
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From: St. Charles IL
Cruise-In 5-6-7-8-9-11-12 Veteran
A CI-6 Car Show Winner
You should be able to grease them without taking apart anything if you have an extension adapter for your grease gun. The extension has a grease nipple on one end to connect to the gun, the other end is quite skinny with a convex tip. Just press firmly against the u-joint fitting and pump.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,532
Likes: 4
From: Fairview Heights Illinois, near Saint Louis MO, STL C3 Shark
I only wish
Originally Posted by Big Fish
You should be able to grease them without taking apart anything if you have an extension adapter for your grease gun. The extension has a grease nipple on one end to connect to the gun, the other end is quite skinny with a convex tip. Just press firmly against the u-joint fitting and pump.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,374
Likes: 788
From: Redondo Beach, California
Do the U-Joints need to be greased??
I replaced the U-Joints on my 1968 last summer just to renew them and actually, there were in good condition. I'm pretty sure they have never been greased. I've owned the car since about 1974 and I have never greased them. I replaced them with solid Spicers. The solid Spicers cannot be greased. The solid Spicers are much stronger than the greasable ones.
I'd say, don't worry about greasing the U-Joints. If they fail because of lack of lubrication, then replace them.
When I said above that my factory original U-Joints were in good condition, I meant they still probably had a good amount of use left. Actually, on some of the U-Joint bearing surfaces I could see where the roller bearings had blemished marks on the outer races. This was a sign of wear but I'm not experienced enough to interpret the effect on bearing lifetime.
I replaced the U-Joints on my 1968 last summer just to renew them and actually, there were in good condition. I'm pretty sure they have never been greased. I've owned the car since about 1974 and I have never greased them. I replaced them with solid Spicers. The solid Spicers cannot be greased. The solid Spicers are much stronger than the greasable ones.
I'd say, don't worry about greasing the U-Joints. If they fail because of lack of lubrication, then replace them.
When I said above that my factory original U-Joints were in good condition, I meant they still probably had a good amount of use left. Actually, on some of the U-Joint bearing surfaces I could see where the roller bearings had blemished marks on the outer races. This was a sign of wear but I'm not experienced enough to interpret the effect on bearing lifetime.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,166
Likes: 0
From: Tulsa Ok
Originally Posted by gtr1999
You could save yourself a future hassle by installing Spicers! 
It's a bit of work to replace the joints though.
Gary
It's a bit of work to replace the joints though.Gary
The brute force from autozone are almost as good at half the price. Throw away your zerks and replace as needed.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,532
Likes: 4
From: Fairview Heights Illinois, near Saint Louis MO, STL C3 Shark
Originally Posted by FeedVaal
The brute force from autozone are almost as good at half the price. Throw away your zerks and replace as needed.
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Instructor
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
From: Bend, OR
Does anybody know where to get the bolts that hold the u-joint straps on at? They don't have them locally that I can find, haven't checked ecklers yet. I have an automatic '80 if there is any difference in the bolt sizes in different years. thanks.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 213
Likes: 1
From: zanesville ohio
Sound like alot of work,how often do you grease ujoints on anything else?? I beleive the grease will last the life of the joint. The ones with fitting are normally cheaper to purchase than with out? To cheap to bother with,just my 2 cents worth.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,156
Likes: 3,965
From: Connecticut, USA
Originally Posted by FeedVaal
The brute force from autozone are almost as good at half the price. Throw away your zerks and replace as needed.
Gary
I only use Spicers after cracking another brand clean in 1/2
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,532
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From: Fairview Heights Illinois, near Saint Louis MO, STL C3 Shark
Originally Posted by john1977
Sound like alot of work,how often do you grease ujoints on anything else?? I beleive the grease will last the life of the joint. The ones with fitting are normally cheaper to purchase than with out? To cheap to bother with,just my 2 cents worth.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,924
Likes: 735
From: Youngstown Ohio
Originally Posted by Big Fish
You should be able to grease them without taking apart anything if you have an extension adapter for your grease gun. The extension has a grease nipple on one end to connect to the gun, the other end is quite skinny with a convex tip. Just press firmly against the u-joint fitting and pump.
It looked impossible at first, but with a flex hose on your grease gun, it is reacheable....
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,532
Likes: 4
From: Fairview Heights Illinois, near Saint Louis MO, STL C3 Shark
Turned out my U-joints were greased okay, what was making the noise was that the passenger side rear spindle was not tightened!!! 
There was only 1 thread past the Castlenut. I had to run to the store to get a 1-1/16" socket, then tightened it up. now there is no major play in the rear spindle, and the "err err err" sound is gone
- that is what I suspected to be a un-greased U-joint. I did get the little right angle attachment and got the U-joints re-greased while I was under there.
There was only 1 thread past the Castlenut. I had to run to the store to get a 1-1/16" socket, then tightened it up. now there is no major play in the rear spindle, and the "err err err" sound is gone
- that is what I suspected to be a un-greased U-joint. I did get the little right angle attachment and got the U-joints re-greased while I was under there.
