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Re: [6pack] U-Joint Headaches

To: Stuart Thompson <stuartt@tlthompson.com>
Subject: Re: [6pack] U-Joint Headaches
From: Robert Lang <lang@isis.mit.edu>
Date: Fri, 26 Oct 2007 12:51:02 -0400 (EDT)
On Fri, 26 Oct 2007, Stuart Thompson wrote:

> Listers:
>
> Driving along in 74 TR6 with an occasional cracking sound coming from right
> rear.

[tale of woe truncated]

> Any ideas?

The number 1 cause of u-joint failure is improper installation (which 
leads to lack of lubricant).

Actually, that's not completely true. #1 is no lube. #2 is no lube 'cause 
the u-joint isn't fitted properly. #3 is abuse. Then there's cheap 
UJ's.... nevermind!

At any rate, in many cases the circlips that hold the u-joint caps in the 
yokes are _too thick_. This results in the cap pressing against the inner 
UJ yoke and grease cannot be forced past. We've all seen this - you pump 
the grease gun and no lube comes out of one or two of the caps.

The fix is actually quite simple - if you need to use a hammer, press or 
other method to push the caps into the yokes so that you can insert the 
circlips, chances are that you have one (or both) that is too thick. You 
can "thin" them a few 'thou by using a flat plate and some emery paper 
with some oil on it. work both sides of the clip then try to reinstall.

You need a couple of thousandths clearance there or those puppies won't 
last very long at all.

How do you know if the clips are too tight? If you assemble the UJ, it 
should should take GRAVITY to get the UJ to move. Not force. Hold one end 
of the axle and let the other "dangle". It should just drop. If it doesn't 
then there's no enough clearance in there.

All IMHO, of course.

> Stuart Thompson

regards,
rml
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