Re: front u-joints...fun

[William Cunningham <slypigs@domain.elided>]

> Date: Tue, 09 Feb 1999 18:07:35 -0700
> From: Tom Mandera
> Subject: Re: Front axle U-joints.. fun
>
> Steve Stegmann wrote:
> >
> > I had one that seemed notchy.  When I took that apart I could see where
> > the central shaft had been scratched by the needles when I hammered it
> > together.  You have to be careful at this point and make sure it is lined
> > up before driving it together.
>
> Sure.. my worst fear... I dreaded it.. but... I guess I'm taking that
> U-joint apart.. *AGAIN*.
>
> I still have 2 brand new caps left.. and one unused cross. ;-)  I wonder
> if I can warranty a U-joint I never even installed...
>
> Thanks, Steve.
>
> - -Tom
>
Tom, Steve,
The last time I put in new front U-joints I had one that was stiff and
"notchy", with no spare at hand and a lack of patience at the time I
just ran it that way. My thought was that the good old 345 would seat
everything or break everything. After the first mile it was smooth as
silk. A week later I drove to RMIHR, did some trails, and have run at
highway speeds (in the snow, hubs locked) without problems.
In this case YMMV. I may have been VERY lucky but WTH it worked and
still works.
I have a spare U-joint ready to go.
And remember "$.50 worth of grease will save you $15.00 worth of
U-joints"
Willy