New Spicer Axle Shaft Questions |
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Alpine
Member Joined: 04 Oct. 2012 Location: Katy,TX Status: Offline Points: 530 |
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Posted: 01 Dec. 2022 at 5:29pm |
I finally got the new axle shaft for the front passenger side and have a few questions:
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Bruce W
Member Joined: 29 July 2005 Location: Northeast Colorado Status: Offline Points: 9652 |
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I understand that Metalshaper and others say to remove the seals so that the grease in the knuckles can get into the joint and lubricate it.
My thought: Why not leave the seals intact so they can do their job and keep the original lube in the joint. Many driveshaft u-joints have no provision for lubing and last the life of a vehicle with only the lube that’s in them when new, and the axle shafts of our jeeps revolve at less than 1/5 the speed of the driveshaft. Modern open-knuckle axles run similar (if not the same) u-joints, sealed, out in the open, not bathed in grease of any kind. I recently installed Spicer axles in my CJ3B, and I did not remove the seals. I also did not fill the knuckles with grease. I guess time will tell if I am right or wrong. BW
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It is NOT a Jeep Willys! It is a Willys jeep.
Happy Trails! Good-bye, Good Luck, and May the Good Lord Take a Likin' to You! We Have Miles to Jeep, Before We Sleep. |
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BD1
Member Joined: 18 Dec. 2019 Location: Maine Status: Offline Points: 630 |
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The issue I see with not filling the ball housing with grease is, what lubes the king pin bearings?
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BD
'47 CJ2a, Shiny on top! '55 CJ5 project |
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flatfender47
Member Sponsor Member Joined: 09 Jan. 2006 Location: Riverside CA Status: Offline Points: 647 |
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You pack them like you would a wheel bearing.
Think of how many revouloutions a wheel bearing makes. Think of how many half turns a king pin bearing makes. My 0.2 cents.
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1947 CJ2A 225V6 SM420 D30 PLok/D44 D/Locker Warn OD 5:38s
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oldtime
Member Joined: 12 Sep. 2009 Location: Missouri Status: Offline Points: 4185 |
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I also pack my king pin bearings. I like the Mobil One grease but any moly or graphite wheel bearing grease is also good.
According to Willys the Spicer front joints should be lubed with 140 wt gear lube and not grease like the other joint types require. FWIW I also like Rzeppa joints and simply pack those full with Mobil One. It will be many thousands of miles between needing service. Typically whenever I service the wheel bearings.
Edited by oldtime - 01 Dec. 2022 at 6:56pm |
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Currently building my final F-134 powered 3B .
T98-A Rock Crawler using exclusive factory parts and Approved Special Equipment from the Willys Motors era (1953-1963) Zero aftermarket parts |
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nofender
Member Sponsor Member x 3 Joined: 10 May 2016 Location: Maryland Status: Offline Points: 2035 |
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I've done it all different ways over time. My latest build with the Rzeppa joints, I've done the same as oldtime. For the Spicer joints, I've cut the seals in the past. But I won't again. I agree with just letting the grease in the joint do it's thing.
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46 CJ2a rockcrawler
46 CJ2a - 26819 46 Bantam T3c "4366" 47 Bantam T3C - 11800 68-ish CJ5 |
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oldmansimek
Member Joined: 23 Apr. 2019 Location: CT Status: Offline Points: 177 |
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do you have selectable locking hubs?
side note- Rzeppa joints are by the best, if you can find them.
Edited by oldmansimek - 02 Dec. 2022 at 6:59am |
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Oldpappy
Member Joined: 09 Apr. 2018 Location: Tennessee Status: Offline Points: 4917 |
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Some folks cut the seals on the joints to allow the knuckle lube to get into the bearings of the joint. Some use universal joints that are sealed and actually run dry knuckles. Filling the knuckles with corn head grease is about the same as running dry knuckles as it does nothing to help the joints. You evidently watched enough of "Metalshaper's" video to ask about cutting the seals, but you must have missed what he said about using "grease" in the knuckles. King pin bearings should be packed with good bearing grease as part of routine service. These bearings do not get lubricated by the knuckle lubricant as so many think. The spindle bushing should be replaced with the later bushing. The axle tube bushing is not needed for the spicer joint axles, so you don't need to worry about it. BTW - I once read that using pink dish soap in car batteries will make them last forever. That wasn't true either.
Edited by Oldpappy - 02 Dec. 2022 at 9:06am |
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If you can't get there in a Jeep you don't need to be there!
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Alpine
Member Joined: 04 Oct. 2012 Location: Katy,TX Status: Offline Points: 530 |
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Trying to install the new axle shaft and it will not fit through the knuckle. The fitting to grease the joint hits the knuckle and cant go further. Before I start messing stuff up, what should I do. I know I dont need it but do I replace the u joint?
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TERRY
Member Sponsor Member Joined: 22 May 2007 Location: BOULDER COLORADO Status: Offline Points: 3400 |
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Remove the fitting? And put a plug in it, or if you are removing the seals leave it opened.
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BOULDER 48 2A
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Alpine
Member Joined: 04 Oct. 2012 Location: Katy,TX Status: Offline Points: 530 |
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I am probably using the wrong term for whatever it is but it wont come off. I think it is for greasing the needle bearings? So I assume I will need to remove the u joint.
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Oldpappy
Member Joined: 09 Apr. 2018 Location: Tennessee Status: Offline Points: 4917 |
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Before you start messing things up, or removing anything, post a picture or two of what you are encountering.
The grease Zerk on the joint is certainly not the widest part of the joint so I can't imagine why that would be in the way.
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If you can't get there in a Jeep you don't need to be there!
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Alpine
Member Joined: 04 Oct. 2012 Location: Katy,TX Status: Offline Points: 530 |
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Bought from Walcks. The piece attached to the u joint prevents the whole thing from sliding into the knuckle. mine actually looks like: Edited by Alpine - 03 Dec. 2022 at 12:29am |
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Oldpappy
Member Joined: 09 Apr. 2018 Location: Tennessee Status: Offline Points: 4917 |
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Oh, it has the grease fitting in the bearing cap. I have never used one like that.
Not what I was expecting to see for a bearing cap either. Mine have "C" clips holding the bearing caps in place, I don't know what holds that one on.
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If you can't get there in a Jeep you don't need to be there!
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Jeff J
Member Joined: 12 Mar. 2018 Location: USA Status: Offline Points: 441 |
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C-clips hold this one too. They are just inside the yokes instead of on the ends of the u-joint. Work the same way. I had to change some like that on a side by side for a friend a few weeks ago. One clip is partially visible in the lower left corner of the picture.
P.S. I was advised several years ago to replace the U-joints with those that do not have the grease fitting when the first set wears out. I don’t know how often they break or wear out but no grease passages make for stronger u-joints. Edited by Jeff J - 03 Dec. 2022 at 8:08am |
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Alpine
Member Joined: 04 Oct. 2012 Location: Katy,TX Status: Offline Points: 530 |
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I'm waiting to hear from Walcks but does anyone know what Spicer u joint I would get to replace this?
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oldtime
Member Joined: 12 Sep. 2009 Location: Missouri Status: Offline Points: 4185 |
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Spicer 5-260 X
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Currently building my final F-134 powered 3B .
T98-A Rock Crawler using exclusive factory parts and Approved Special Equipment from the Willys Motors era (1953-1963) Zero aftermarket parts |
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TERRY
Member Sponsor Member Joined: 22 May 2007 Location: BOULDER COLORADO Status: Offline Points: 3400 |
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If it just the grease fitting in the way, it will come out.
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BOULDER 48 2A
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