U joint information

Maybe I'm not doin this right, but I searched and found nothing???

I'm looking for info on U joints, I see some going for $10.00 and up to $140.00, obviously real cheap to unbreakable!!!

Who is using what brands AND is there a chart for what the numbers mean ie: 260, 297, 1310 - 30 - 50? I know there are more sizes and conversion (diff size caps on either cross)?

I've never blown a joint (smart foot?) and have wheeled some NASTY trails, ruined some, yes, but not blown (always got home under my own power!). I was using my FLAPS joints.

Thanks, Dale

 

Most Jeeps will be using 1310 series u-joints. I just use the cheapos from my FLAPS, but I carry a couple of spares with me.

 

Nothing but Spicer or better for me. They last longer, have more needle bearings to distribute the load better, made from better quality materials initially, and handle loads much better. They generally seal junk out better too. The numbers denote applications and size of the joint as well as location of retaining rings, i.e. on Jeeps 260x is one used in Dana 30 axle shafts, 297/760 are Dana 44's (760 are updated and stronger version of the 297), 153x are used on about 90% of the Jeeps from '41 to Wrangler drivelines, etc. I used to use other brands but none of them hold up as well nor last as long. I do carry some FLAPS cheapies so when other people have one go bad on the trail I can give them something to get off the trail and not give away my more expensive joints. If you ever do actually break a joint it frequently damages the yokes to a point they are unusable so take that into consideration when choosing your U-joints.
I have a pair of CTM 300m rebuildable joints but those will be going into the front of the CJ-6, not into my normal trail Jeep. Nickmil