Boxerworks.com

Can the driveshaft u joint on a /5 be replaced without replacing the driveshaft?

Mike Lydon

I believe that any driveline speciality shop can do it. They know all there is to know about universal joints. They could probably install a sealed joint with a grease fitting. No more lub in the swingarm.

I don't know if the /5 set up is like my 81 rs but I replaced my universal joint prolly 15 years ago and all is well.
The original joint is peened in place, but I was only a novice peener then
So I welded a washer at each of the 4 point of the uni to retain it.
I used a Hardy Spicer uni joint for a perfect match.

Do you have the part number for that U-joint? I remember a few years ago i was unable to find one with the correct dimensions.

Thanks very much.

blitz

Me109,

I just left the local driveline specialist and they were unable to help me. They could not find replacement u joint.

Mike Lydon

I can't remember the part number but it was a Hardy Spicer.
I just measured and cross referenced.
The overall width of the part I used may not have been exactly the same as original.
The diametre of the caps was the same as original.
I used a washer on top of each cap as a retainer and spot mig in 4 places, each cap.
The washers were just plain steel, and finished flush with the outside of the yoke, making it easy to perfectly align the new joint in the yokes.
I took care to keep weld heat to a minimum.
It has stood the test of time/torture.

Bruno up in Canada rebuilds U-joints/drive shafts. http://www.brunos.us/

He does nice work.

Teo

Even if you replace it with a pre-greased sealed U joint, still use lube in the swing arm. Something has to grease the splined drive coupling just in front of the final drive.

Why not use spline lube on the spline to the rear drive and forget the drive shaft liquid lube?

That's what they did with the Paralever.
On ALL Paralever bikes, it is normal to see the ring of grease that was flung out of the OE nipple-less joints onto the inner swingarm walls.
Scary but normal.

Centrifugal force propels all lubricants out of the U-joint roller bearings.
The only lubricant those rollers ever get is what they left the factory with,
or what can be introduced via a grease nipple, if you add one.

IMO -The fact that the single joints on the wet-swingarm older bikes last longer than the dry double-jointed Paralever joints has more to do with sharper angles (longer suspension travel) than it does with lubrication.

Most OE automotive U-joints, tie-rod ends, ball joints, etc. have no grease nipples and usually outlast the vehicle's warranty.
Quality after-market replacements usually have grease nipples and will outlast OE parts, but only if they are greased at regular intervals.