REAR DRIVE SHAFT UPGRADE / SHITE UJs
Discussion
Just a footnote really to my post on the upgrade of my drive shafts.
I replaced the UJs on my original 350i drive shafts and bought them from a certain well known TVR supplier. They have only done about 200 miles and have already worn badly so that i now have the same problem as before ie moment of the rear wheels top to bottom. This tends to give a rather wiggly feeling when accelerating hard, and changes the whole set up of the rear.
The UJs where put in by a good mechanic that i know well and i have even check that the job was done properly so i assumed that the UJs were crap quality.
With this in mind i took out one of the cups off the end of the new UJs and compared it with one of the old ones that i had kept. The roller pins in the new one were only half the diameter of the old ones and looked thin and weak. Im guessing cheap Jap import or something like it. Needless to say someone is going to be getting a rather irate phone call soon.
I replaced the UJs on my original 350i drive shafts and bought them from a certain well known TVR supplier. They have only done about 200 miles and have already worn badly so that i now have the same problem as before ie moment of the rear wheels top to bottom. This tends to give a rather wiggly feeling when accelerating hard, and changes the whole set up of the rear.
The UJs where put in by a good mechanic that i know well and i have even check that the job was done properly so i assumed that the UJs were crap quality.
With this in mind i took out one of the cups off the end of the new UJs and compared it with one of the old ones that i had kept. The roller pins in the new one were only half the diameter of the old ones and looked thin and weak. Im guessing cheap Jap import or something like it. Needless to say someone is going to be getting a rather irate phone call soon.
Some thoughts
While everybody is sold on "with nipples" sealed UJs are still pretty good and certainly better than one that didn't get good initial greasing and subsequent top up.
If the prop shaft is holding up well (Same UJ), then the drive shaft UJ premature failure could be due to it being the upper arm on the pre A frame cars. Bad shocks, bushings etc.
Also, engineering wise, you cannot just stuff a new UJ into an oval yoke, (well you can but
)
You'll need to get it reemed and go one size up.
A sealed unit may actually hold up better on the early cars.
PS I have nippled ones on mine
While everybody is sold on "with nipples" sealed UJs are still pretty good and certainly better than one that didn't get good initial greasing and subsequent top up.
If the prop shaft is holding up well (Same UJ), then the drive shaft UJ premature failure could be due to it being the upper arm on the pre A frame cars. Bad shocks, bushings etc.
Also, engineering wise, you cannot just stuff a new UJ into an oval yoke, (well you can but
)You'll need to get it reemed and go one size up.
A sealed unit may actually hold up better on the early cars.
PS I have nippled ones on mine
Edited by jeff m2 on Saturday 30th August 15:39
Zacky94 said:
The drive shaft is essentially acting as an upper arm adi , it's not like a modern set up
that's why you get up and down play when UJ's are worn
You will Sudenly click when you think about it ,
Zack
I understand that Zack. But, to me, up and down movement of the wheel means bearing wear or poor adjustment. If the UJ is shot then more than the wheel is moving up and down because the hob carrier moves too. If you just move the wheel up and down that is inconclusive.that's why you get up and down play when UJ's are worn
You will Sudenly click when you think about it ,
Zack
But of course, I don't know what the actual test was that was carried out!
A.
I completely agree 9 times out of 10 but it isn't only a wheel bearing that can give you top and bottom play
I have seen a number of difrent geraman vehicles especialy give the same play due to knackerd arms etc.
It's a strange one , obviously if the hub is solid and the wheel is moving top and bottom it is defiantly a bearing
But my UJ on one of the sides has the same symptoms and the bearing is fine
But I am no expert by no means ! Lol
Zack
I have seen a number of difrent geraman vehicles especialy give the same play due to knackerd arms etc.
It's a strange one , obviously if the hub is solid and the wheel is moving top and bottom it is defiantly a bearing
But my UJ on one of the sides has the same symptoms and the bearing is fine
But I am no expert by no means ! Lol
Zack
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