Did I get a defective U-Joint?

KCTA Chris

KCTA Chris

Senior Member
I had a random noise in the running gear around 30 mph letting off gas. Happened once, then again, and now constant... reading past posts it sounds very much like a U joint problem. I noticed my ujoint shaft bolt and retaining washer was a little loose and could be the cause the problem, while my Ford Ujoint looked ok, to be safe I ordered a replacement joint. I read about the defective ones a few years back and also the Bob Drake Issues so ordered from a trusted “A” vendor. This is what I got.... I immediately noticed the splines are not centered in the yoke, in fact the casting is offset leaving some of the yoke egde sticking out further on one side. Before I call to send back wanted to make sure this is defective? Or is it useable and nothing to worry about?
 

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GOOD GRIEF !!! how that U/J got by quality control is a mystery that is of course if they have one . This is not useable it would vibrate as it would be way out of balance also most likely has a poor spline fit . Send it back . Rebuild your original and hope you get a USA rebuild kit if available .

John in rain showers Suffolk County England .
 
This has been a problem for many years. I think the joints are made in Argentina. Splines are offset. Flathead V8 s take the same u joint up to 48. Most vendors have stoped selling them.

I found some NOS ones and bought 2. Used ones are another source ie Bert's

John
 
Called the vendor, Bert's... very good customer service and refund plus shipping.
Found another good factory ujoint close by so hopefully I'll be up and running again soon.
 
I ordered a new u-joint from Braaton's for up coming work. I think now I need to see if it's good, the one in the car isn't rebuild able.
 
None of the current reproduction universal joints on the market are any good. The biggest problem is that the OD is too big and they hit on the housing. This is why we have temporarily discontinued them in our catalog. You're better off finding a good original until they decide to manufacture them properly.
 
Big hammer said:
I ordered a new u-joint from Braaton's for up coming work. I think now I need to see if it's good, the one in the car isn't rebuild able.
Click to expand...

I'm in the same boat. I just received my new Mitchell :D and was going to buy a universal joint to install while it is apart. But then I heard the same a Don3527 said, the new are too big.

Now I am going to wait to see what is in there and either rebuild or find a used one to rebuild.

Always Sumptin' :rolleyes::rolleyes:
 
yea I was real happy with Berts, he also helped me out with some original parts years ago. I also had the battle of the poor repop headlight lenses a year ago on a '39 COE, apparently some were made with the inside mold rotated 180 deg. - yep always something!
 
The sign of a quality business is NOT the lack of issues. They ALL have issues, we are all human. It's how they deal with the issues when they appear that separates the good from the bad outfits. Everything I have heard is that Berts is as good as it gets.
 
Yesterday I was looking thru my spare parts for some different items and came across several original used U joints. I did not spend any time inspecting them but in general I think they are all good usable joints or I would not have kept them. If anyone needs one e-mail me at frank55a@verizon.net and I will dig them out and send pictures.
 
4 years ago I got one of those that was off centered to the point of locking the trans when the outer housing (clamshell) was mounted to the rear of the trans. As an additional test I machined a shaft that fit to the i.d. of the splines of each yoke to see if the centerline of each half was concentric and they were way off, The shaft would fit either end but not both.
 
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