TTB u-joints

[simonsays]

I have been having some issues on my truck with my front u-joints, im not breaking the u-joints im just having the caps fall off. i have had this happen on both the center u-joint and the outers, the center i found it before it broke the axle but on the outer one i didnt notice it in time and it broke the axle. i had heard from someone that you could tack weld the caps on. He didnt know much about it, just had heard it from a friend. What im wondering is was that to tack the internal clip to the u-joint or to tack the cap to the axle.

 

[4x4junkie]

Check this out

http://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/May06/dana35_ujoint_snapring.htm

Be sure to use the genuine Spicers too, I do see the cross busted in your 2nd pic.

 

[simonsays]

yeah i got the stub axle fixed that happened back in december. if you notice the brake is missing too.. i had my studs snap off at the same time as i lost the front u joint and had to take the brake off to tighten up some bolts threw the wheel to get back to the pits..

i am using the spicer u-joints

thanks for that link, i have already ground the axle for clearance but ill try using a snap ring instead of the stock clips.

 

[AllanD]

If the caps are falling off the yokes are Ffffffuuuuuukkkkkktttttt!!!!!!!

And anything you do to keep them from falling off is a "band-aid" fix.

Even if you tend to "spit the clips" it indicates that the yoke ears are stretched
and if so refer to the first line above.

I look at the tension required to seat the caps when I'm assembling the shaft

If one feels loose it goes into my scrap bin.

Life is too short to waste time struggling with buggered parts.

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[simonsays]

i dont even hardly run the truck in 4x.. the caps are falling off in 2x but my truck cycles 24in of front travel so the front end is doing a lot of moving around even in 2x.

 

[4x4junkie]

Well... the caps are capable of spinning and spitting off the clips with perfectly good (brand new) yokes if pushed hard enough (and is still reason to do the mod above). I've seen this happen on relatively new vehicles that have never had a u-joint changed before.

If they are falling out real easy like that though, then I would agree the yokes are severely worn out or stretched.

 

[simonsays]

looks like its time to have some cromoly axles made then..

 

[CopyKat]

JBG I believe has a set of outers you can buy for the TTB. When tacking the caps you have to watch that you don't get too hot. You'll also need to do some grinding to get them down enough to get through the hole in knuckle.

 

[Evan]

I've found you only need to tack on the caps in the outer stub shafts. The caps on the inner shafts don't spin. At least with my setup....which is locked with 35s.

And the inner slip yoke joint needs none of the caps tacked. So there are 4 caps total that need to be tacked. Also, once a yoke has been "egged" if you try to weld a cap in it'll crack the cap.

 

[AllanD]

The next set of spare shafts I'm going to make up for my own truck
I am going to glue the caps in with Loctite RC680.

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