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Hi All,

Just changed one of the UJs on the halfshafts at the rear. Not a job I relish as I inevitably drop on of the needle bearings of get something jammed.. Anyhow two interesting things..

Was changing them as I had a sligh whine from the rear. When I took the halfshaft off it was clear that the issue was the outer UJ which seemed to be binding slightly. When disassembled the bearing surface on the spider seemed to have markings that match the needles which you could feel with a finger nail hence causing the binding. Anyone know why these marks would have occurred?

Second observation was using the correct tools made it all easy (60 mins to disassemble, replace UJ and reassemble.)

When I say correct tools I mean a UJ press (Universal 10PCS Ball Joint Repair Removal Tool Kit, Auto Truck Press Service Tool Set 2/4 Wheel Drive Vehicle Remover Installer Adapters https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B074V6BLGW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_1uDXCbKCBCWKK).

made the whole thing a doddle!

Cheers

Tim

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Hi Tim,

good you could fix it, it is always rewarding to diy.

The indents from the needles in the crucifix are not ok, but common on worn UJ’s. The needles are harder than the crucifix journal surface.

Was the old damaged UJ properly lubricated?

Waldi

 

 

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Hi Tim

I have just changed all four UJ's using a vice which did the job, but was hard work. I had one joint like that and it usually means it's either  worn out, lack of greasing or dirt in the joint. That tool looks the business and a good price as well.

Roger

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Seemed to be plenty of grease in the joint. 

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Not that loud. But have had the DIF checked and it was fine alongside the wheel bearings but the outer uj was clearly knackered. Not checked the whine has gone  yet however so fingers crossed. 

Tim

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You`ve probably read about my ongoing rear end whine, I`m even suspecting my recently installed recon diff now because everything else feels ok. My UJs feel fine and are well greased but you say yours was and it was still worn.                                                                                         I think  I may pull the driveshafts out and have a closer look at mine, you never know.

cheers   Dave

 

 

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What was interesting was that in the bearing that had failed the plastic insert at the bottom of the cup was torn up.  No idea whether this was during assembly or the result of the bearing wearing. 

Cheers Tim

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The GKN replacement has the same. It's a flat disc with a cone in the centre that fits into the grease hole in the end of the spider. It doesn't seem to stop the grease from flowing into the bearing but I could imaging that it stops it from flowing back. It could also help distribution of grease in the bearing

Tim

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Marks on the inner part of UJ are pretty normal with high torque

that was applied to the axle. This makes it more common on the

driveshaft than on the propshaft.

 

Either you have a high performance engine or tend to accelerate hard in low gears.

 

The reason is that the needles loose their rectangular position under heavy load and so

at the tips of the inner part a point load is created instead of a line load when

needles are in correct position.

 

Had a discussion with a specialist at a fair. He told me they made special caged joints

what dropped the amount of needles in the joint but due to fixed angle of needles over

all gave better results.

 

The solution is the CV-jointed axle.

I tried the UJs with the longer needles but lost some of them. Revington

offered new propshafts with these UJs but there the oute cups broke two times

and I stepped back to GKNs TVC joint with smaller inner part, not the heavy duty one.

 

The marks on the inner parts have nothing to do with lubrication.

Edited by TriumphV8
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Isn't the dif a "torque and speed exchanger"?

The probshaft runs 3.7 times faster with 3.7 times less torque than the driveshafts?

The driveshafts run 3.7 times slower with 3.7 times more torque than the propshaft?

 

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That is correct, normally the marks should only occur on the driveshafts.

That was the reason for me to step back to the original design with shorter needles.

If really needed on the propshaft I would have made another attempt with the

heavy duty joint with the longer needles.

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8 hours ago, Tim D. said:

The GKN replacement has the same. It's a flat disc with a cone in the centre that fits into the grease hole in the end of the spider. It doesn't seem to stop the grease from flowing into the bearing but I could imaging that it stops it from flowing back. It could also help distribution of grease in the bearing

Tim

Thanks,

I learnt something today:)

Waldi

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Interesting what you say about the effect of extra torque. The car has a supercharger so perhaps that is the culprit. Interestingly I suspect wouldn't have heard the whine if it where not for having the hardtop on. 

Tim

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