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Unbreakable 5-297x U-joints

Leadfoot

Leadfoot

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Jesse at High Angle driveline says he has u-joints that use a Dana 60 wheel joint body and no bearings. I can see how it would be a heck of a lot stronger, but what about lubrication and heat under long continuous usage?
Does anyone know?
 
There is a guy on Pirate 4x4 that is Jesse's test driver for these joints, and I haven't heard of any breakage yet. This guy is running an EB with 44's and a lot fo power and huge right foot!

There is a metal sleeve/bushing that is installed where the bearings used to be....

Mike - <A target="_blank" HREF=http://emmett.coloradok5.com>http://emmett.coloradok5.com</A>
feaf78a4.gif
 
Might work OK at the pinion end of Jesse's CV shafts, since that end of the shaft should be lined up so that it runs very close to zero degrees under load. This would keep any rotation of the u-joint within the cups to a minimum.

I doubt that you would want to use such a joint in a standard (non-CV) driveshaft. The rotation of the shafts within the cups as the driveshaft spins would quickly heat things up.

<font color=black>HarryH3 - '75 K5</font color=black>
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://ThunderTruck.ColoradoK5.com>http://ThunderTruck.ColoradoK5.com</A>
It's a great day to be alive...
 
I believe these were originally built to go in the axleshafts of a D44 to make it stronger. That is where the guy from Pirate is using them...

Mike - <A target="_blank" HREF=http://emmett.coloradok5.com>http://emmett.coloradok5.com</A>
feaf78a4.gif
 
Aha! That's a cool idea. If you think about it, your front end spends more time pointing straight ahead than anything else. Plus the axle shafts spin WAY slower than the driveshafts. When pointed straight ahead, then the u-joints are just transferring power. It's only when the wheels are turned that they have to transfer power around a corner, which is when the shafts would turn inside the cups. Plus, when you have the front hubs unlocked and in 2WD, those u-joints are just dead weight, they aren't doing any work at all. Seems reasonable to me!
cool.gif


<font color=black>HarryH3 - '75 K5</font color=black>
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://ThunderTruck.ColoradoK5.com>http://ThunderTruck.ColoradoK5.com</A>
It's a great day to be alive...
 
They are greasable, but they are not intended for continuous usage. These are for the hardcore guys that have to work on their rigs a lot. The guy Jesse originally made them for was hoping to get three runs out of them before he had to replaced the bushings. He broke stock Dana 44 joints every time he took his truck out. So if you break axle joints every time you wheel, then these will solve that problem, but if you don't, then just order the standard Spicer axle joints from Jesse.

Jeff427
<font color=red>Mud Dog Off Road Club</font color=red>
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://muddogoffroad.coloradok5.com>http://muddogoffroad.coloradok5.com</A>
 
I just got finished grinding Jesse some more of those beefy ujiont's and they are beefy. The first set that he had, had a little to much clearance in them. So I made them tighter this time and we are trying different materials. We should have a good idea in a month or two and how they will last. The guy testing them broke the Warn 19 spline axle and did not hurt the u-joint so I think that he is onto something.

Donovan
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.rustbucket.coloradok5.com>http://www.rustbucket.coloradok5.com</A>
Bigger is Better
 
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