ok to clean/regrease original u joints
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 699
Likes: 46
From: Charlotte NC
ok to clean/regrease original u joints
Tearing down my (35000 mile) 68 rear end. It has the original u joints in the half shafts. They feel pretty good - only slighty stiff, very slightly, and have good grease in all caps. Ok to just clean everything up add fresh grease & let it go? Hate to spend $100 on incorrect looking u joints if I don't really have to. Is there an actual inspection to determine if a u joint is bad anyway? Dry needles or clicking feeling?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 836
Likes: 26
From: Harrisburg Pa
If your just doing an inspection on the joints and had no problems then yes its more than ok, its good preventive maintenance. When you have the caps off , look for wear on the cross journals, cuts or grooves from the roller pins are signs that replacement is needed. if the journal looks good and you have a grease fitting in the u joint then flush the joint with clean grease then add a little grease to the rollers and put it back together. When its together then pump grease in to POP the seals till grease come out of all 4 cap seals.
Use good HIGH PRESSURE grease.
Use good HIGH PRESSURE grease.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 480
Likes: 42
From: Los Angeles CA
If your just doing an inspection on the joints and had no problems then yes its more than ok, its good preventive maintenance. When you have the caps off , look for wear on the cross journals, cuts or grooves from the roller pins are signs that replacement is needed. if the journal looks good and you have a grease fitting in the u joint then flush the joint with clean grease then add a little grease to the rollers and put it back together. When its together then pump grease in to POP the seals till grease come out of all 4 cap seals.
Use good HIGH PRESSURE grease.
Spicer Universal Joint Lubrication Path - 10-Series - YouTube
Use good HIGH PRESSURE grease.
Spicer Universal Joint Lubrication Path - 10-Series - YouTube
Last edited by Frank_Nesta; Dec 29, 2014 at 02:44 PM. Reason: Spelling
if your going so far to disassemble a u joint, might as well change it.
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,595
Likes: 7,043
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
On the other hand......when I beadblasted my halfshafts and driveshaft, I removed/cleaned/greased/reassembled the ujoints except for one......
Only one joint had wear on the cross-journals/the needles had minor rust----I replaced that ujoint and took the extra cash to buy seals for the diff and the trailing arms.
Only one joint had wear on the cross-journals/the needles had minor rust----I replaced that ujoint and took the extra cash to buy seals for the diff and the trailing arms.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
All parts have a suitable life span. And the factory U-joints did not come with a Zerk (grease) fittings. 40+ years without being greased is long enough!
If yours have Zerks, then they have been replaced. Grease them and see what comes out. If the displaced grease look decent, just leave them as is. If they were dry or the displaced grease is yucky looking
, it would be best to replace them.
I would not even consider disassembling them for inspection and then putting them back in service. If you go that far, put in new ones.
If yours have Zerks, then they have been replaced. Grease them and see what comes out. If the displaced grease look decent, just leave them as is. If they were dry or the displaced grease is yucky looking
, it would be best to replace them.I would not even consider disassembling them for inspection and then putting them back in service. If you go that far, put in new ones.
