danc Posted December 31, 2002 Share Posted December 31, 2002 Guys: I'll be changing the U-Joints in my Half-shafts this winter in my 83 280ZX (430 H.P. SBC) and wanted your opinions on the good and bad! I haven't had any problems with the OEM's on it now, but it's time for new ones. I used Brute Force on the driveshaft without a problem, but I remember the JTR guy talking about how strong the Datsun factory U-Joints were. Any experiences good or bad would be appreciated. Thanx Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest greimann Posted December 31, 2002 Share Posted December 31, 2002 I made many drag launches on the stock u-joints with my V8. One day on the street I took off hard and bam-whump! I replaced that u-joint cross with the heavy duty Spicer units from Motorsport and eventually broke one of those too on a hard launch. After reading more about u-joint problems and causes, I believe, as many here have said, that the operating angle has a lot to do with u-joint durability, much more than the actual strength of the cross. Those drag launches I did were all at stock ride height. The problems seemed to be after putting lowering springs on. This is case behind the CV joint conversion. CV joints can operate at a more severe angles than the cardan style joints can. The problems are always on the right side in an open diff car, and if you do break one, stop immediately or there is a good possibility of wiping out your fuel pump! Remember that the differential is a torque multiplying device, and that the half shafts see 3.54 times more torque than the driveshaft, so be careful about comparison. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danc Posted January 6, 2003 Author Share Posted January 6, 2003 Greimann: Thanks for the reply. I've looked at several threads on CV versus U-joints, and appreciate what everyone has said about the benefit of the CV Joint operating better at a more aggrevated angle. The discussion threads have convinced me to replace the Half Shaft/Ujoint hardware in favor of C.Vs in the next year or two but wanted to replace the U-joints this year in the interium. I am running BFG radial TA 215x70x14s on the back, and as on your car I'm sure, fire them up at will. If you know anyone wanted to see a complete C.V. set, I'm would be interested regardless of when I might use them. Thanx Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
80LS1T Posted January 7, 2003 Share Posted January 7, 2003 Hey if you are intersted I have those Spicer U-Joints for sale! I paid $140.00 for 4 but I will sell them for 110.00 + 10 for shipping. Let me know if you are interested! Guy ggrenfell18@yahoo.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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