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U-Joint bearing question


Guest AlanD

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Guest AlanD

Taking apart this U-joint on the drive shaft, there are 4 bearings that can be removed from the ends. That thing was packed with old hard grease and made me wonder if this could be 1923 vintage grease.

Looking at the top left of the picture, the arrow is pointed to the end of one of the bearings. The red and black arrow on the bottom right is pointed to one of the bearings which is open on it's end - this is the only one open.

post-75896-143141910087_thumb.jpg It just looks like solder or lead on the end of these, forming a cap. I don't know for sure but could this be lead on the end of the bearing? And how could I go about repairing it?

Thanks,

Alan

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I just had my 1928 Studebaker yoke and front u-joint rebuild by a machine shop. There were no bearings in my u-joint, as it had bushings on the four ends. He had to make new bushings, rebuild the yoke which has been damaged. Each end of my drive shaft had "housings" over the u-joints and a zert to add grease. He used a rubber boot on the front with clamps. I packed it full of grease and clamped it tight. It is very difficult to find parts or someone who has one like yours lying around. I suggest finding a machine shop who rebuild what you have. Mine is back on the road!!!!

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The holes in the side of the yokes are obviously to disperse grease into the bearing so maybe the original idea was that when the universal joint was in postion and the unijoint was being serviced you would remove the lead cap by driving a screw driver or similar through it, filling the hollow in the yoke up with grease and the sealing it with a new lead cap. Centrafugal force would push the grease into the bearing as necessary.

Is the bearing/yoke worn badly? Maybe and good clean and regrease would be enough if you are not doing high milage.

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  • 2 weeks later...
Guest AlanD

Thanks for all the views and replies. I was told that it is correct to have all 4 ends covered. And the small holes are for grease, as DavidAU mentioned.

Looking at the inside of the other three, the end looked to be brass and the outside was grey/silver color of lead or solder. So I cut out a brass disc to fit and tried to solder it on. I used different types of solder with no success at all. None would stick and all I did was over heat the bushing. So I mixed up some JBweld and attached the disc that way. So far this solution looks great.

FYI, there is a grease zerk on the u-joint housing to add grease to the whole unit.

Thanks ya'll!

Alan

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