High quality replacement U-joints (Joe Lucia ??)

[Joe R.]

I'm about to replace the U-joints in my 67 drive shaft and half shafts. I want to get high quality (durable and strong) U-joints that have no grease fitting. Cost considerations are secondary to quality.

A search of the archives showed a 2002 posting from Joe Lucia that recommended GM #26015249 for the drive shaft and GM #12541503 for the halfshafts. Are these still the "best" parts to get?

I have also seen GM #89029305 recommended for the halfshafts. Does anyone know how this compares to the #26015249?

[Greg L.]

Re: High quality replacement U-joints (Joe Lucia ?

Joe,

Maybe I can help. Try the Federal-Mogul Precision Brand non-grease-zerk ones (P/N 231). Someone on this board refered them to me as good quality original appearing replacements.

Greg

[Bryan L.]

Re: High quality replacement U-joints (Joe Lucia ?

Just ordered some from Bair's. They are Spicers. Got 'em in less than a week.

BL

[John G.]

Re: High quality replacement U-joints (Joe Lucia ?

Spicer .. A very good quality U-joint. Those baby's are BEEFY!

[Joe L.]

Re: High quality replacement U-joints (Joe Lucia ?

Joe-----

GM #26015249 remains available for the driveshaft u-joints. This is a Spicer-manufactured joint without grease fittings. Its configuration differs markedly from original u-joints, but it is a very high quality u-joint. It comes with a very high price, too. These u-joints carry a GM list price of $55.77/each.

The GM #12541503 half shaft u-joints are discontinued and replaced by GM #88964507. I don't know too much about these new joints, but I expect that they're high quality, Spicer-manufactured parts, too. Like the 12541503, I expect that they are without grease fittings and configured significantly different than the original joints. These carry a GM list price of $117.43/each.

The GM #89029305 are, basically, a Delco parts system u-joint for the half shafts. Their configuration is very similar to the original u-joints. The do not have grease fittings. I don't know who manufactures these, but I think they are US made. These carry a GM list price of $27.10. Do you suppose that these $27.10 u-joints are of the same quality as the $117.43 GM #88964507? I don't.

For the driveshaft application, the Delco u-joints are GM #89029389 with a zerk fitting in the body of the joint, GM #89029293 with a zerk fitting in the CAP of the joint (eliminates loss of strength due to body zerk, but still alllows greasing), or GM #89029327 with no zerk fitting, at all. All of these joints are very similar in configuration to the originals and have black seals, as original.

[Tony H.]

Re: High quality replacement U-joints (Joe Lucia ?

Joe,

You can get Spicer u-joints at a considerable savings through heavy duty truck suppliers like Fleetpride, Inc. The link below will allow you to locate a Spicer driveline retailer near you. Consider calling a few places as their prices vary significantly between the suppliers listed. The

Tony




Spicer Driveshaft Parts

[Joe R.]

Re: High quality replacement U-joints (Joe Lucia ?

Hi Joe:

Thanks for the update. I have a couple followup questions:

1) Does the GM #26015249 driveshaft joint have black seals? I don't mind if the casting is configured differently, but I'd rather not have a glaring difference such as blue seals when my car is judged.

2) Several posters have suggested buying U-joints directly from Spicer. Is there only one Spicer part for the halfshafts or does Spicer have different quality levels for the same application? An old posting in the archives implied that Spicer has different families of parts at different quality levels.

Thanks for the help.

[Joe R.]

Re: High quality replacement U-joints (Joe Lucia ?

Thanks Tony. I'm trying to sort out what Spicer part numbers I should be considering, and whether there are different quality grades within the Spicer product line.

[John Lokay]

Re: High quality replacement U-joints (Joe Lucia ?

How does one tell if a U-joint is going bad? I have this annoying rotational noise coming from the rear of my '66, especially pronounced at very low speeds (10mph) and was thinking that maybe it has something to do with the U-joints. The rear trailing arms were rebuilt by Bairs, a few years ago, so I kinda rule them out. Thanks

[Joe L.]

Re: High quality replacement U-joints (Joe Lucia ?

Joe-----

I do not know what the color is of the seals on the current-production GM #26015249.

Spicer does make several different lines of u-joints. The best and most expensive are the "lubed-for-life" variety which require no greasing and have no grease fittings. These may or may not be the same as those supplied to GM for sale under their part numbers.

[Joe L.]

Re: High quality replacement U-joints (Joe Lucia ?

John------

A u-joint going bad often makes a "clicking" or "crackling" sound, especially on starting in first or reverse. However, very often the sounds are very subtle and the u-joint fails before the sound alerts one to the problem.

[Tony H.]

Re: High quality replacement U-joints (Joe Lucia ?

Sometimes, you can see traces of rust from the corroded, disintegrating needle bearings of a bad u-joint.