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Author
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Topic: Should u-joints be breaking?
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662+2
Gearhead Posts: 141
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 04-13-2005 11:05 AM
   
I am replacing the rear u-joint in my mustang about every 2 months, is this considered normal? I have a 72 Mustang with 351 running mid 12's leaving the line at about 4500rpm off tranny brake.
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n2oMike
Gearhead Posts: 2499
From: Spencer, WV
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 04-13-2005 11:08 AM
I've never broken a U-joint. What breaks 99% of u-joints is a bad pinion angle. The rearend should be pointed down around 5 degrees from the driveshaft if you are using leaf springs and some sort of traction bar. (slapper bars, etc)Good Luck! ------------------
Mike Burch
66 mustang real street
302 4-speed 289 heads
10.63 @ 129.3
http://www.geocities.com/carbedstangs/cmml_mburch.html
http://www.fortunecity.com/silverstone/healey/367
http://www.mustangworks.com/cgi-bin/moi-display.cgi?220
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662+2
Gearhead Posts: 141
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 04-13-2005 11:11 AM
I do have leaf springs and caltracs. Thanks
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steve'66
Gearhead Posts: 9104
From: Sonoma,CA,USA
Registered: Mar 2000
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posted 04-13-2005 11:31 AM
With CalTrac's your pinion should be 3 degrees down. I agree it is probably a bad pinion angle causing the breakage.SteveW
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Moneymaker
Administrator Posts: 26513
From: Lyons, IL, USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 04-13-2005 11:55 AM
Ditto.------------------
Alex Denysenko
Co-Administrator and Moderator NHRA/IHRA/SRA member and licensed Superstock driver
NHRA and IHRA SS/LA & SS/MA National Record Holder '00,'01,'02,'03,'04 &'05
First NHRA & IHRA 289 automatic Superstock Mustang in the TENS 06-99
First SS/MA in the TENS 04-03
IHRA division 5 Superstock Champion
Fleet of FoMoCo products including 88 ASC McLaren Mustang #28 The Barry of BarrysGrrl Quote #1: "I never met a magazine mechanic I liked."
Quote #2: "Make sure brain is in gear before engaging mouth!"
Quote #3: "If you can't run with the big dogs, stay on the porch!"
www.moneymakerracing.com
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Bloose
Gearhead Posts: 692
From: Milwaukee, WI
Registered: Dec 2001
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posted 04-13-2005 06:27 PM
Are the tabs that hold your u-joint caps in place on the yoke still in place. Dumb question I know but I thought I would ask anyway. Usually if you break a joint it spits out a cap and takes that tab with it. Then you'll constantly lose joints after that.Just a thought,
B-loose
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zepheracer
Journeyman Posts: 28
From: Butte, Mt.
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 04-13-2005 09:41 PM
Is it a stock driveshaft? If you are using a shaft thats been cut and rewelded the joints could be out of phase.
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steve'66
Gearhead Posts: 9104
From: Sonoma,CA,USA
Registered: Mar 2000
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posted 04-13-2005 10:30 PM
The only time Melissa's '66 broke a U-joint was when the perches rolled on the 9" rear housing. The pinion angle went straight up and the U-joint didn't stand a chance. It was only a mid 12 second car back then launching with a T-5 tranny's low first gear on slicks.  Today, it has hundreds of 1.42 60' wheels up launches on cal-tracs with Zero reliability problems.  SteveW
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662+2
Gearhead Posts: 141
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 04-18-2005 07:32 AM
No the tabs are not broke I had the car up on the hoist and noticed the broken u-joint before it broke the bearings were crushed and the caps and u-joint were still in place Thanks for your input everyone
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662+2
Gearhead Posts: 141
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 04-18-2005 07:34 AM
This might be a stupid question butwhat do you mean the u-joints could be out of phase
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zepheracer
Journeyman Posts: 28
From: Butte, Mt.
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 04-18-2005 07:12 PM
If you look down the driveline, the front and rear joints should be on the same plane. Out of phase is more common on drivelines with splined slip joints. They get put together a couple slines off. Your shaft has welded yokes and should be ok. I have seen homebuilt shafts where the yokes are welded in out of phase. Also don't over tighten the u- bolts, it distorts the cap.
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662+2
Gearhead Posts: 141
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 04-19-2005 09:12 AM
Thanks everyone for the advice
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