U-Joint Torque

[flt-blk]

I was coming back from the Fly Rite Choppers last Sunday and
noticed a new vibration. I figured I broke something at
the drags in Tepmle.

Turns out it was the U-Joint I replaced only a couple
hundred miles ago. All the needle bearings were pulverized.

My question; Is there a torque spec for the U-Bolts holding the joint to the pinion? Ford 8" out of a Maverick.

Thanks
TZ

[50mercfan]

i would guess lack of grease or extreme pinion angle. i had a jacked up blazer years ago it used to eat up u-joints and they looked just like that. then i bought a needle adapter for the greese gun so i could get the right amount of greese in there and didn't have anymore problems

[flt-blk]

It was greased before I installed it. The last U-Joint
lasted 18,000 miles under the same pinion angle but went dry on one side.
TZ

[Hellbound_Hootch]

http://www.drivelinesnw.com/TroubleshootingChart.pdf
http://www.northlakedriveline.com/services.htm

should help,,,
MISS hellbound hootch

[modernbeat]

Tyler, if you tighten them too much, then you sieze up the bearing on that side and it becomes a bushing instead of a bearing.

I think you normally only tighten up the U-bolts to 8 or 10 foot pounds. Use locktite! And get a second opinion - I'm going from foggy memory.

[50mercfan]

thats what i did on my blazer too. tried to put grease in them before i installed it. it didn't work for me. i don't know if thats your problem but thats what happened to me. if you can't get a grease gun into it after it's installed let me know. i'll send this needle to you and you can send it back. i think i still have it somwhere.

[flt-blk]

Thanks for all the feedback, and quick too.

Looks like I just over-tightned. According to the link from
Hooch It should be 14-17lb. I tightened them much more
than that.

Thanks for the offer 50merc, I can get the the zerk really easy. I had to buy one of those needles to grease the king
pin bushings.
TZ