Sealed vs Greaseable U Joints for a Passenger Car

[outrun]

1998 Camaro
Original Factory Sealed U Joints have finally failed 226,000mi

Rock Auto is offering Precision and AC Delco for the car. The parts schematics strongly suggest ACD is a Precision rebox.

The shop suggests greasable units hands down. I love clean cars ... do greasable u joints make a mess of the undercar due to the centripetal forces trying force the grease out everywhere? Second, if high quality sealed units last 13+ year I am in no way complaining.

What are other heavy duty brands you would suggest? I want to install the units and forget about them. Hear no evil

 

[Chris142]

It's been my experiance that the non greasable ones last much longer than the greasable ones. I know that it Doesn't make any sense but thats what I have seen with my cars/trucks.

 

[Stanley Rockafeller]

Originally Posted By: outrun
1998 Camaro
Original Factory Sealed U Joints have finally failed 226,000mi

Second, if high quality sealed units last 13+ year I am in no way complaining.



I dont' know about the accessibility of your u-joints, but they are not accessible on my e30 when the exhaust is installed, as a result the original sealed joints lasted at least 13-15 years. My new DS has greasable joints, but there is no grease being flung out of the joints...so that's not really a concern.

Honestly I don't see any problem with going with either setup consideirng 13-15 yrs of life acceptable for you.

 

[punisher]

Originally Posted By: outrun


What are other heavy duty brands you would suggest? I want to install the units and forget about them. Hear no evil

Honestly, almost any brand will do what you want. I usually try for Spicer u joints on daily drivers, and I ran Lakewoods on my drag stuff.

EDIT: TCI are supposed to be top notch as well, but I have no personal experience with them.

http://www.jegs.com/p/Lakewood/Lakewood-...CFdZS2godAlhlEQ

Overkill, but tough.

 

[RH+G]

The shop suggest greasable cause u will be changing them again long before 226,000 miles. Sealed always last longer thats why the factory uses them

 

[onion]

Originally Posted By: Chris142
It's been my experiance that the non greasable ones last much longer than the greasable ones. I know that it Doesn't make any sense but thats what I have seen with my cars/trucks.


That's been my experience too.

 

[EricF]

Hate to admit this but my 220k Ranger 4x4 has the original ujoints on it. I'm looking at replacing them someday. Go Motorcraft!

the Precision u-joint already has a grease fitting like it or not.
there's a Brute Force model from Precision that's also greasble, but noticably stronger.
I've had no problems with any greasable units, however I do shoot redline synthetic grease into them too.

Usually the greased units fail sooner because the avg. person doesn't realize that they have to grease them once in a while.
and the lube tech people aren't "trained" to look for those anymore and those that are would shoot the wrong grease or a general lithium grease in and well.. that wouldn't really work under the pressures.

I'd personaly go for Spicer if you can. not to say that precision is bad, but Spicer's are stronger hands down.

 

[mechtech2]

Sealed U joints, ball joints, or tie rod ends lst a very long time.
they have it down, now.

 

[The_Eric]

Originally Posted By: mechtech2
Sealed U joints, ball joints, or tie rod ends lst a very long time.
they have it down, now.


Agreed and I, like the o/p like a clean car and under body. I wouldn't think twice about using a sealed unit.