Help with driveshaft u joint choice

[Modoc Guy]

I need to replace the u joints in my front driveshaft, and I found out that the closest driveshaft repair shop to me does not use Spicer u joints, they use NEAPCO (New England auto parts company) brand. I’ve never heard of them before, but after web searching for reviews, I found they have a decent reputation.

Anyone have any experience with that brand?

And I know I could swap out the u joints myself, that’s not the problem. I prefer having a shop do them and re-balance the driveshaft when they’re done. It makes for less problems down the road.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Talk with your next nearest driveshaft shop. Or send it to www.4xshaft.com.

 

[CodaMan]

For me it's Spicer only

 

[MichaelGH]

I have went back and forth between Spicer and Neapco many times. My front and rear driveshafts both have parts from each of them at the moment. I wouldn’t hesitate to use them…

 

[JMT]

I need to replace the u joints in my front driveshaft, and I found out that the closest driveshaft repair shop to me does not use Spicer u joints, they use NEAPCO (New England auto parts company) brand. I’ve never heard of them before, but after web searching for reviews, I found they have a decent reputation.

Anyone have any experience with that brand?

And I know I could swap out the u joints myself, that’s not the problem. I prefer having a shop do them and re-balance the driveshaft when they’re done. It makes for less problems down the road.

Just change the u joints yourself, run it. If you have balance problems, take it to the shop.

when you slide the splines apart, make sure and mark the shaft on both sides, then it will go back just like factory. I know they say you should always balance after new u joints, but it’s worth trying it out. I didn’t have any change when I did mine.

 

[CodaMan]

Just change the u joints yourself, run it. If you have balance problems, take it to the shop.

when you slide the splines apart, make sure and mark the shaft on both sides, then it will go back just like factory. I know they say you should always balance after new u joints, but it’s worth trying it out. I didn’t have any change when I did mine.

I replaced all the u-joints on both my Jeeps and never balanced, never had a vibration.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Just change the u joints yourself, run it. If you have balance problems, take it to the shop.

when you slide the splines apart, make sure and mark the shaft on both sides, then it will go back just like factory. I know they say you should always balance after new u joints, but it’s worth trying it out. I didn’t have any change when I did mine.

Same here. My recommendation is the Spicer 5-1310x.

 

[pagrey]

Driveshaft u-joints take allot less abuse than the front axle joints. Unless you really hammer on your Jeep I wouldn't worry too much about the driveshaft joints, especially if you've never had problems with your front axle joints. I definitely run Spicer on the axles but the shaft, meh.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

I definitely run Spicer on the axles but the shaft, meh.

With the front driveshaft's ability to completely destroy the transfer case if it its CV joint goes bad I wouldn't take chance on its u-joints either.

 

[pagrey]

You definitely enjoy using the fear-mongering technique to get people to follow your advice. The transfer case isn't going to self destruct using Neapco. You aren't going to die in the desert if you don't use Mopar sensors. You aren't going to blow your CB radio if your SWR is over 2. You aren't going to fall down a ravine if you don't buy a Warn winch. It's just a driveshaft joint, plenty of us bust them and fix them on the trail quite regularly, like popping a bead it ain't a big deal. Geez, so extreme with everything.

 

[MichaelGH]

Almost ALL of the driveshaft manufactures that most all of the members here use utilize both Spicer and Neapco parts in about every shaft they make…

 

[Blackjack]

Almost ALL of the driveshaft manufactures that most all of the members here use utilize both Spicer and Neapco parts in about every shaft they make…

Yep. I use a lot of Neapco when I do not have a Spicer to use. Neapco has a large selection of combination joints for doing custom work.