View Full Version : Installing U-Joints
Divinitous
11-29-2005, 09:07 AM
I get the concept of how to install them and i definately got the routine down from having to do this 2X time laste night. But i seem to be missing some crucial step.
Last night i got two spicer u-joints for my jeep and had one hell of a time installing them, everytime i would get to the final cap, i would break one of the plastic seals on them when i gave it it's last crank down. I was pretty gentle as to now tighten them down too much, it just seems that i'm missing some step to not break them.
Granted i didnt read the directions on the first joint and packed the caps with grease, which would result in the pressure inside the cap breaking the seal. So that was my stupidity, but the other joint i definately had a problem.
I know these joints are what came stock in my jeep, and they lasted 60k miles without a problem. Is a vice just not a good idea for this? Of am i going to have to resort to buying that Harbor Freight u-joint tool?
I think that if i were to get some joints with rubber seals (the kind that are typically greasable [spicer 5-433-1X (fitting on cap) 5-625x (fitting on body)]) i wouldnt have this problem. Sealed definately sounds nice to me since i pretty much dont have to care for them. The ones i got 5-785x do appear to be the correct ones or atleast atleast the correct sustitute for 5-625x which was suposedly the origional one.
I know autozone sells cheap joints that will prolly work fine for me, but i still prefer to stay with spicer. I'm not entirely sure, i really dont have big wheels and without a locker i cant see it mattering much anyways. But a good few hours and two new joints down the crapper. :wall:
Tis my first time working with a u-joint so tis a good learning experience for me though.
Well, anyway, how do i press these joints into here without breaking this plastic seal? Tis pretty irritating to get the whole joint in and have the seal break on the last cap.
Hmm interesting. The only problem I ever had was busting a needle bearing while installing an old u-joint.
http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/ujoint_install/
Check that out. Maybe it will help more.
I usually hammer the u-joints out with a 19MM or 3/4" socket and a sledge hammer.
Some of those Spicer joints are greesed for life. I installed those in my YJ axle shafts and it was not hard. I tried doing it with a vise and an arbor press and it was just a pain, hammering them out was easier. You live near Rod right? Ask him is he can give you a hand.
As for the cheap u-joints at AutoZone, they will work fine. They just break under hard wheeling and large tires. It will be fine for you, and I beleive those are greesed for life. Also if you break them, they have warrenty and free replacement. I installed one in my CV shaft and have not had problems with the joint.
Hope this helps! :wtg:
badzook
11-29-2005, 06:58 PM
You live near Rod right? Ask him if he can give you a hand.
Hope this helps! :wtg:
That's too funny... That's where he was working on them at my place :-P ... I'm also at a loss on this one.. Those Spicer Joints were almost identical to the factory units and were a real pain to install.. I've done tons of these and never had this problem before. These joints suk..
I Just did my van last week and it took only about 45 min. These weren't Spicers either...
The Plastic seal Pops ( splits ) when you install the last cap????? Too much grease pressure??? Any ideas??? :shrug:
He said he packed in greese, you cannot do that on the Spicer ones that dont have a greese zerk. The amount of greeze thats on there is set for life. So I have been told and said. Probally broke because too much greese. Thats my guess...
badzook
11-29-2005, 07:37 PM
A brand new one broke without adding any grease. Straight outta the box...
A brand new one broke without adding any grease. Straight outta the box...
Hmm does he have the right ones? There are many different sizes. I know on YJs they changed the u-joints in 91 I think?
Divinitous
11-29-2005, 08:23 PM
I should have the correct ones. They looked to be the exact size of the origionals. Granted the models suggested for the job is 5-153x, 5-433-1x, and 5-625x (shown here (http://www.tellico4x4.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/23186)) and the ones i bought are 5-785x.
From doing a quick search i've found that they should be a direct replacement for the 5-153x according to some 4x4 part merchants (http://www.tellico4x4.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/23186). To my understanding the 5-785x (my new broken ones) are just the stock ones but 40% stronger.
I'll get this figured out by eithor just ordering the correct spicer model as given to me through jeepforum or by just giving up and going to autozone and getting a "bobs" brand joint, slapping it in, and have that annoying voice in the back of my head telling me that i am using something that i consider substandard. It might be overkill to put it that way, but i'm a tight ass for following brand bandwagon.
I am reading the 760 is what you need...5-760X to be exact.
Also here is an awesome write up. This guy has the best writeups, I think.
http://www.stu-offroad.com/axle/ujoint1/u-joint-1.htm
Hope this helps. I will read some more and see what I find. :wtg:
sentinal02
11-29-2005, 08:32 PM
call up spicer and see what they say. it's possible they got a bad batch of plastic and it doesn't have the right pressure standards. might be a known issue, ya never know. if anything i'd be trying to get my money back from someone.
Divinitous
11-29-2005, 08:44 PM
call up spicer and see what they say. it's possible they got a bad batch of plastic and it doesn't have the right pressure standards. might be a known issue, ya never know. if anything i'd be trying to get my money back from someone.
We maybe assumed that, we took the seals from the old joints and placed them onto the broken new ones to see if we could get the task accomplished that night. No luck, still broke them. Prolly gonna give em a call sometime and see what they have to say. Granted i did screw up my first set with the added grease.
Divinitous
11-30-2005, 03:43 PM
The guy that sold em to me gave me the right ones. Upon research any 1310 series u-joint will work. 5-785x is 1310. So eithor my methods (which is the standard method) or the joint was bad. Oh well, gonna look into getting some joints with rubber seals, that should eliminate my problem.
Are you doing U-joints for driveshaft or axle shafts? I thought you were doing axle shafts...
Divinitous
11-30-2005, 05:43 PM
Driveshaft
I have left the one that goes to the front diff on, although i might as well change that, and atm i have no u-joints in the CV joint.
ROCKREADYXJ
12-01-2005, 08:06 AM
Divinitous would you like me to install them for you? I know they fit and I have done them before. I will try to get you the plastic seals from spicer they used to sell them separate. The 5-785x is the cold forged u/joint version of a 1310. like a 5-760x is the forged version of the 5-297x.
Divinitous
12-01-2005, 08:27 AM
Is it going to be a problem that i mixed the caps after all the seals were shot? :wall: I know the instructions were quite big on not doing that. :shrug: Order me three new u-joints, I'll pay for em, :giveup: and I'll take you up on that installation, as long as you wont mind me hovering over your shoulder to figure out where I went wrong.
ROCKREADYXJ
12-01-2005, 08:40 AM
Is it going to be a problem that i mixed the caps after all the seals were shot? :wall: I know the instructions were quite big on not doing that. :shrug: Order me three new u-joints, I'll pay for em, :giveup: and I'll take you up on that installation, as long as you wont mind me hovering over your shoulder to figure out where I went wrong.
Hovering is annoying but if you want to watch thats ok. I need my personal space LOL. Let me see what I can do for you. I feel bad that you had a problem. I hate to see money get pissed away.
Divinitous
12-04-2005, 08:12 AM
Well, tis snowing outside. Kinda wish i didnt drag my ass around and put off getting my jeep back into 4wd.
Well, tis snowing outside. Kinda wish i didnt drag my ass around and put off getting my jeep back into 4wd.
Yea we got a few inches, I know the feeling, I dont have a front driveshaft either, damn thing vibes :(.
Divinitous
12-07-2005, 10:28 PM
Joe got me some better joints with plastic seals and slapped em into the driveshaft today. Got it, installed it, drove it, and no more noise.
So the jeep is now snow ready!
Joe got me some better joints with plastic seals and slapped em into the driveshaft today. Got it, installed it, drove it, and no more noise.
So the jeep is now snow ready!
Congrads! Good to hear its all back together.
sentinal02
12-07-2005, 11:22 PM
and just in time for the first big one!
ROCKREADYXJ
12-09-2005, 01:07 PM
I hope that shaft worked good today! alot of snow.
Divinitous
12-09-2005, 02:17 PM
Yeah, tis amazing what my jeep can do in 4wd compared to 2wd.
The jeep was pretty much useless in 2wd.
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