ujoints zerks or no zerks Pros/Cons

[PalmSprings]

What are the pros and cons of each.

[Mr_D]

zerts = zerks

All my MH joints have zerks as does the driveshaft slip joint as I mentioned to you on another forum. Each U-joint has two zerks, so there a five total on our driveshaft.

[PalmSprings]

Originally Posted by Mr_D

zerts = zerks

as I mentioned to you on another forum. Each U-joint has two zerks, so there a five total on our driveshaft.

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really?
What other forum?

[1ciderdog]

I'd think for a heavy duty application such as a motorhome you would want them so you can grease them or have them greased - Just my personal opinion.
Safe Travels
Bob

[Gary - K7GLD]

In hot-rodding circles, u-joints with grease fittings are sometimes avoided because some feel the fittings and grease channels will weaken the joints and cause breakage failures. I'd hardly think that likely in conventional non-performance usage, and certainly prefer u-joints I can grease...

[Hikerdogs]

There are pros and cons to each style. While those with ZERK fittings allow the joint to be lubed at maintenance intervals they are also at the mercy of the mechanic doing the job. Most guys want to pump the grease in until they hear it crack as it breaks the seals in the boots. This act in itself shortens the life of the joint by creating a path for the grease to escape at high speeds.

The non greasable styles are not subject to this abuse and could potentially last longer because of it. They however cannot be lubed when needed and will fail should the factory preset amount of lubrication be insufficient.

Over the years I've replaced hundreds of both styles. I can't say that one style has lasted appreciably longer than the other. In both cases they're moving parts. Moving parts wear, and parts that wear eventually fail.

[Gary - K7GLD]

There WAS a time when a consumer could trust that factory greased and sealed joints were properly lubed at the factory - but it seems those days are long gone, as minimum wage droids are now on the assembly lines spending more time watching the clock for break time than paying attention to their assigned duties.

Case in point, trucks like my '02 Dodge/Cummins use pre-greased and sealed ball joints and tie-rod ends - and commonly fail at 20-30 K miles - and often, close inspection reveals they are completely dry of lube inside - probably were straight from the assembly line!

On my truck, I use a hypodermic needle fitting on my grease gun, pierce the joint boot, and grease all my joints every several thousand miles. 70K miles on them so far - and still as solid and tight as new!



NOW, some will rush in to claim that piercing the boots will allow contaminants - water, dirt, etc., in and compromise the effective sealing of the joints - BUT, as I said, mine are doing well at 70K miles - and let's not forget, the older style non-sealed and greasable joints were ALSO effectively open to the elements - and they all seemed to last quite well, as long as they WERE greased regularly...

[JimM68]

The u joints on my Camaro are solid.
The ones on my motorhome are not.

[blackf3504dr]

Originally Posted by Gary - K7GLD

There WAS a time when a consumer could trust that factory greased and sealed joints were properly lubed at the factory - but it seems those days are long gone, as minimum wage droids are now on the assembly lines spending more time watching the clock for break time than paying attention to their assigned duties.

Case in point, trucks like my '02 Dodge/Cummins use pre-greased and sealed ball joints and tie-rod ends - and commonly fail at 20-30 K miles - and often, close inspection reveals they are completely dry of lube inside - probably were straight from the assembly line!

Having delivered to the auto plants for 30 years I agree with your assessment of the line workers but now days all these "sub assemblies" are delivered ready to install on the vehicle and the line worker just bolts it on and don't grease anything..... As far as "minimum wage droids" these people make pretty good money for what they do !

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by blackf3504dr

As far as "minimum wage droids" these people make pretty good money for what they do !

Well, they used to earn somewhere over $75,000 a year which I only earned once in my life. This year my wife earned far more though.

[Chuck 1935]

I worked on my sons Weekend Warrior suspension and discovered that none of the grease fillings had ever been greased.

[blackf3504dr]

One way to look at it is, if there are zerk fittings the ujoints have a chance of getting greased, no zerk fitting and there's an almost zero chance any of the ujoints will ever see new grease... This is the way things have been going for a number of years, lubed for life means lubed until just before it fails....

[W4MBG]

well, that pretty much determines the "life" of the joint. as soon as it fails, it's dead.

[blackf3504dr]

Originally Posted by W4MBG

well, that pretty much determines the "life" of the joint. as soon as it fails, it's dead.

Yep ! Planed obsolescence .......