Hi it feels like I got to replace the universal joints on my Renault. all six of them on three drive shafts. they all feel sloppy when the shafts are moved around by hand. changing them out shouldn't be a problem, but should I go to the trouble of finding someone to check the running balance afterwards?
- Thread starter marfyboy
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the snooper
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mark them with something before stripping them
brightspark
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tipex
Bill Edwards
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Tippex, hacksaw marks or easiest yet, a hammer and chisel. Doesn't rub off and is pretty easy.
pedrobedro
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Are these universal joints on a prop shaft or constant velocity joints on drive shafts ? CV joints and drive shafts are not usually balanced and can go together in any orientation. CV joints are sloppy by comparison with universal joints, if they are not knocking they are usually alright.
They are prop shafts and there is a knocking on the two props gear box to transfer box and transfer to back axle. the front axle prop don't look like its had much use.
Out of curiosity could I swap around the props if they don't require balancing? eg front axle prop to main drive prop. They are all the same size and same flanges.
Out of curiosity could I swap around the props if they don't require balancing? eg front axle prop to main drive prop. They are all the same size and same flanges.
normspanners
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If they are uj/ carden joints/hardy spicers they the most important thing is the timing of the joints, so that they neutralise the uj effect. IE mark the splined sections so that they go back in the same orientation.
Bill Edwards
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Very important.
To be honest I don't know. are they likely to be fitted to a 51 year old ex army ambulance?
The pic is the drive shaft's but not mine
pedrobedro
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Those props look to have a splined slider in there as well. If you get the joints wrong on a solid prop it will phase like hell and shake itself to bits. It will not need balancing if all you are changing is the UJ and if they are the same length they should not affect anything if you swap them round.
There are splines on one end to allow for the movement of the front and back axels but it should have a rubber bellow over them to protect from the dirt. Mine haven't. They are available from France but 30 odd eruos seems a bit steep for rubber boots! So something that will fit is going on the shopping list too.
pedrobedro
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Reliant axles have a spline like that and they never had covers on them and there are still some running round. They don't pull out far under real world use so just put plenty of grease on.
These guys list a huge selection of UJs,
http://www.baileymorris.co.uk/
http://www.baileymorris.co.uk/
was going to fit them incase I took it off roading. not looking for originality just longevity
Thanks should come in handy
normspanners
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Universal Steering rack boots £8 pair will work just the same cable ties round the end of them and bingo
Those drawings are all totally wrong they are all 90 deg out!!!
Those drawings are all totally wrong they are all 90 deg out!!!
Bill Edwards
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Remarkable mistake to make don't you think!
Basically, whatever you do assemble them differently to those above!
You should mark the shafts so that you can pull the splined parts apart and then line them up exactly as they were. It's not impossible that somebody has taken it apart before and got it wrong though.
They could have a 'master spline' so can only be fitted the right way but I wouldn't expect it or count on it.
Basically, whatever you do assemble them differently to those above!
You should mark the shafts so that you can pull the splined parts apart and then line them up exactly as they were. It's not impossible that somebody has taken it apart before and got it wrong though.
They could have a 'master spline' so can only be fitted the right way but I wouldn't expect it or count on it.
I wouldn't be surprised if they have been apart before! The front prop shaft looks original, castle nuts and pins plus fifty years of grease and dirt. the main prop from the box to the diff has newer nuts and bolt as does the rear prop. putting the uj's back together should be straight forward as the French army liked to mark all the grease points, drain and fill plugs with yellow paint.
