Universal Joints

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skyhightree1

skyhightree1

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Does anyone still prefer the u joints you grease over there sealed units ? I try to only buy the greasable units always even on my trucks they seem to last alot longer in my opinion. What say you ?
 
I agree. Although the sealed ones are good, since ya dont have to grease em, but I think the ones you can grease will last longer. Just a shot or two of grease each time you do an oil change and your good to go. I have always like the Spicer ones too, they seem to be more heavy duty.
 
Yes, the ones you grease IMO, last longer. You can also always, after warranty period ends, drill, tap and install a grease fitting on the sealed units as long as you don't just go crazy with trying to over pressure the seals.Same thing for automobile ball joints--they are often sealed units now days. I like the greaseable (is that a word?) because it makes you look at that u-joint a lot more often and you notice wear before the ujoint bearing wears completely out and ruins the whole cross and yoke.

When I worked at the tractor dealership, it was common for mower deck spindle bearings to be sealed, but there was a grease fitting on some of the oem spindles. Of course, being sealed, they wouldn't take grease and all the replacement bearings were also sealed. The "official fix" was to pop out the plastic seals. Lower seal on the upper bearing and upper seal on the lower bearing and the bearings then got plenty of fresh new grease and lasted much longer than the sealed units.
 
greybeard said:
I like the greaseable (is that a word?) quote]

If its not a word we made it one for the C.T. dictionary. I never thought about the spindles and decks of lawn mowers but you are completely correct.
Click to expand...
 
A 625hp truck will wreck a greaseable u-joint in one night of racing. And the solid u-joints have lasted almost 2 years now.
 
highgrit":f2xxjzz9 said:
A 625hp truck will wreck a greaseable u-joint in one night of racing. And the solid u-joints have lasted almost 2 years now.
Click to expand...

I don't think thats a fair statement unless you are speaking of 1 brand in particular because im sure there is some manufacturers out there that can last as long if not longer that are greaseable that you may have never tried for various reasons.
 
Skyhigh, a greaseable u-joint is hollow in the cross for the grease to get to the caps. All heavy duty u-joints have solid crosses whether there made by Spicer or Lakewood. A greaseable u-joint is the best for harsh conditions. A Lakewood high performance u-joint which has a solid cross, is piece for piece is stronger than any greaseable u-joint made. No ifs ands or buts about it.
 
High you may be correct on the racing aspect as I have no experience in that yet and it sounds mathematically correct but the only thing I honestly can tell you for a fact in my situation is I run the ones with grease zerks on 2 fleets of trucks from ford rangers up to tractor trailers and I had problems with the sealed units alot more than the greaseable units.
 
Jed i see the total opposite. Think it could be cause my mechanic pulls every truck in ever 2 weeks and greases ball joints u joints and anything else that needs greasing ? " The trucks that are used mostly everyday that is
 

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