Whats everyones preference on u joints?

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71DodgeDemon340

71DodgeDemon340

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Has anyone used the lakewood chromoly u joints? I usually go with spicer but looking at different options. Im needing new 7290 u joints for my demon
 
Spicer solid u-joints in all of my race stuff. Never had a problem and always heard they wee #1.
 
No spicer solid available in the 7290 u joint. The 5-811x isnt grease able but summit shows it as not being solid
 
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FWIW, any u-joint that has a grease fitting in the "cross" between the bearing caps should be installed so the fitting hole is under load/compression.
I didn't know that Spicer solids were not available in 7290. I've only used 7260 and more recently, 1350 in my Aspen wagon on the Dana 60 end.
 
Locomotion said:
FWIW, any u-joint that has a grease fitting in the "cross" between the bearing caps should be installed so the fitting hole is under load/compression.
I didn't know that Spicer solids were not available in 7290. I've only used 7260 and more recently, 1350 in my Aspen wagon on the Dana 60 end.
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on summit it says the 5-811x is not solid but i thought all u joints without grease fittings were considered solid. Lakewood makes solid chromoly ones. May go that route
 
Don't have time for more research at the moment, but I found this new product!

Spicer® Extreme™ U-Joints - Driveshaft | Spicer Parts


It appears that the Spicer Life Series U-joints are the ones that my driveline shop recommended. They are listed as "solid" and not greasable. So without finding one to pull apart, I would assume that they are not cross-drilled for lube distribution.
 
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Locomotion said:
Don't have time for more research at the moment, but I found this new product!

Spicer® Extreme™ U-Joints - Driveshaft | Spicer Parts


It appears that the Spicer Life Series U-joints are the ones that my driveline shop recommended. They are listed as "solid" and not greasable. So without finding one to pull apart, I would assume that they are not cross-drilled for lube distribution.
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for offroad use only and only available in front axle sizes from what i can find
 
71DodgeDemon340 said:
for offroad use only and only available in front axle sizes from what i can find
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You didn't say what the actual use would be. But since you were looking for the strongest/best u-joints, I thought it might be "off-road" as in drag racing. 7290 seems to have been the least popular of the 3 styles from the Mopar muscle car years (7260, 7290, 1350) so that might be the reason for a lesser variety to choose from. I just stumbled onto the "Extreme" series.

I can't say anything bad about Lakewood or Brute Force, or provide a strength comparison. Seems like Chromoly would be stronger than conventional steel, but there still is manufacturing quality & tolerances. Still leaning towards Spicer based on experience & reputation.

I wonder if anyone ever did a test or provided a rating of some sort like they do for connecting rods. Perhaps doing some research on some driveshaft and differential vendors might reveal a preferred brand/style that may include the 7290 size. (Moser, Strange, Dr. Diff, Mark Williams, Denny's, Inland Empire)
 
I went ahead with the lakewood chromoly u joints. I know the spicers are good but i deff want the strongest joint i can get. Well see how they do

they are going in my 4 speed demon
 
Ok so i received the “lakewood” u joints. The box was lakewood but inside was neapco u joints? Wtf. I contacted holley who owns lakewood and summit to see what they make of it

they look to be good quality but never heard of them

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Neapco's are good joints. Maybe not the best, but very good quality. They have a Neapco factory down in Beatrice NE. So I know some of them are made in the US.
 
If you worry about the tiny holes drilled for grease as a weak point, I suggest going to a bigger U joint. A 1350 or 1410 for example.
 
lemondana said:
Neapco's are good joints. Maybe not the best, but very good quality. They have a Neapco factory down in Beatrice NE. So I know some of them are made in the US.
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how do they compare to spicers?

what aggravates me is brewers has the same neapco joints for half of what the “lakewoods” cost
 
Hey everyone just a quick update. The same ones listed on brewers for $25 Are neapco silver u joints according to brewers. The Neapco u joints on there website Have the same numbers as the Neapco joints i received that were supposedly lakewoods. I ordered a couple of spicer 5-811x through work to compare quality and the trunions on the spicers had a better finish, almost polished. The spicer 5-811x are solid, not drilled through, Plus the spicers not only have a triple lip seal like the neapcos but they also have dust seals as well. I ended up taking the neapcos out and installing the spicers. Gonna send the neapcos back to summit for a refund.

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Neapco us an old line manufacturer. I installed their u joints back in the 60's....good product.
 
BTW - Do U joints w/o a grease fitting eventually need to be greased?

If so, how? (remove and pack like front wheel bearings?)

Or, are newer U-Joints w/o grease fittings "sealed" and dont' require maintenance?

Thanks
 
71DodgeDemon340 said:
Gonna send the neapcos back to summit for a refund.
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Once Summit inspects the part and deems it was installed, even with zero miles, they call it used and will not issue a refund. BTDT
Danny Boy said:
BTW - Do U joints w/o a grease fitting eventually need to be greased?
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There not supposed to.
If so, how? (remove and pack like front wheel bearings?)
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On new sealed solid U joint I get, I take them apart just to double check each cap has grease inside of it. The bearings are roller so they do not get packed like a wheel bearing. What I do is just add a cap full of grease to what is already there in each cap, slide the cap back on and go. The centrifugal force will provide all the gravity and pressure needed to force the grease I put in the cap as the old grease wears out & thins.

The sealed U joint is now double greased and should out last year my kids life span. I haven’t changed a U joint out when I do this in 20 years.
Or, are newer U-Joints w/o grease fittings "sealed" and dont' require maintenance?
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That is correct. That’s the idea. As delivered, it should be a life time U joint under normal use.
 
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