UJ's

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Paul - xxx - 19 Mar 2008 19:00 GMT

Well, that's it. Done all four now within the last year or so, so
hopefully they'll last a bit without needing doing again.

However ... the front UJ of the front propshaft had one of the roller
bearing races completely dried out and devoid of grease. The one I
replaced it with I filled with grease by hand before assembling the
propshaft, then when I'd got reassembled it to the Disco I tried to add
a bit with the grease gun, but it only came out of one node of the
four-way UJ. What's the likelihood that this one will go the same way
as the other?

I do try to keep them greased but it seems pointless if I'm only
greasing one and the others are just going to lock up and dry out
anyway.

Are there other UJ's that are better/more reliable than GKN's?

We do a lot of off-roading but like I said they're cleaned/greased
after almost every run out, at least every fortnight anyway, but this
almost seems pointless if it's not being greased correctly.

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Paul - xxx

'96/'97 Landrover Discovery 300 Tdi 'Big and Butch'
'98 Suzuki DR 200 Djebel 'Small but perfectly formed'
Dyna Tech Cro-Mo comp "When I feel fit enough'

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Dougal - 19 Mar 2008 19:28 GMT

> Well, that's it. Done all four now within the last year or so, so
> hopefully they'll last a bit without needing doing again.
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> four-way UJ. What's the likelihood that this one will go the same way
> as the other?

Quite high.

> I do try to keep them greased but it seems pointless if I'm only
> greasing one and the others are just going to lock up and dry out
> anyway.

Start with the obvious that the grease passages in the spider need to be
clear. Old hardened grease is all but impossible to pump out. If you've
stripped/cleaned or fitted new, this is not an issue.

Then arm yourself with a large screwdriver and force the spider towards
a bearing cap then pump in the grease. Repeat for each bearing. Take
care not to damage the rubber seals. Obviously it's easier when the
propshaft is free to rotate, so chock wheels, jack up, unlock diff, etc.
as required before you get underneath.

The increased resistance to grease flow at one end of the spider arm
will then usually allow grease to flow at the other.

> Are there other UJs that are better/more reliable than GKN's?

There are many that are worse.

> We do a lot of off-roading but like I said they're cleaned/greased
> after almost every run out, at least every fortnight anyway, but this
> almost seems pointless if it's not being greased correctly.

Yes, you're wasting your time if you can't get them all lubricated.

You will frequently find that rolling element bearings, of which this is
an example, do not perform well with a moly grease - the rollers skid
rather than rotate and die more quickly. Use this snippet as you think fit!

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