Thread: Why do Landrover UJ's flog out ??

Well its not uncommon to get brand new faulty parts, and brand can make a difference to, quality of the product. The angles at which the uni's run, and how there maintained making sure all dirt is removed from the grease nipple. Having said that though i'v never had uni problems or wheel bearing issues on any of my land rovers

Use better UJs.

My P38A has 250,000 km on it with original UJs.

goingbush,

Can't say I have had the range of experience with different vehicles but the only flogged out UJs I have found on an LR was on an 80" and I suspect that was due to age and lack of maintenance.

Are the UJ used in other branded 4x4 any bigger than that on LRs?

Wheel bearing are a different story. I just put that down to use of the vehicle in water and mud and failed seals.

good point

Nissan and Toyota UJ's are 91mm across,

My defender rear prop shaft UJ's are 75mm (part no TVC100010)

My TD5 front shaft has larger 92mm UJ's (they are still good)
Part no STC 4807 or Spicer 5-1203x. Meybe LR has cottoned on.
Anyone had a 92mm Td5 UJ flog out ???

I'm still on my original UJs. Keep greasing them but maybe you need to look at driving style too??

Try & be smoother with the clutch & gear changes (reduce the 'shock' loading).

M

My experience is not that Landrovers flog out U-joints. For example, my 110 has the original joints in the front prop shaft at nearly 600,000km. The entire rear prop shaft was replaced about 200,000km ago, but that was because of the sliding joint not the U-joint.

I have replaced a few u-joints in the Series 2a, but these have been usually related to seal failure on them, possibly due to being hit by sticks, or more likely - they were cheap.

Factors that I expect lead to the perception of frequent U-joint failure are :-

Raised suspension increases the angle of operation and hence angle of the joint
As mentioned above - quality of joints varies, the sizes used are very common, so lots of variation in quality.
In Series Landrovers, operation with free wheel hubs unlocked for long periods will result in uneven wear.
Some Discoveries have the aircon drain arranged so as to keep the rear joint on the front shaft continually wet.

John

Not greasing them regularly is also a common reason for them to let go.




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I don't think --or seems from my experience no problem with premature failure from genuine parts up here on my side or historically in the ME/Africa.

The problem is OE. OEM. and the aftermarket.

The props on most UK built vehicles are made by Hardy Spicer and they fitted GKN U/J's.

Or they did the last time went on a plant walk about when I was with Leyland Truck & Bus Div.

The GKN is OE spec (originally three geezers Messrs Guest Keen and Nettlefolds)

OEM spec is to factory specifications from most suppliers.

Then there is the aftermarket, (nuff said!) made in China, India, Brazil, Argentina, Poland USA to name a few.

All have varying qualities and pricing! Plus the durability/longevity to go with it!
And that basically explains it all and what is used by shops who reconditions shafts in the repair business.

Then the exception to all this is the D2 with V8 engine.
With the cats and the Y pipe running down and in close proximity to the rht cat assy the prop just gets "cooked" with about 450 degrees F of reflected heat.
Now that is asking a lot for a prop to withstand so I see these multi joint front shaft take a dump at about 90K miles even with GKN's in them.
If you have a D2 check it regularly especially if you start to feel a slight vibration when entering a motorway or high speed through way and accelerating from about 20 (40kph) to around (70 kph ) after that is will smooth out. AND will will forget it until it gradually gets worse and lets go!
Read a brown gusset moment and a wrenching sound of the wallet open to fix it
Cheers Dennis
zedcars