High speed grease for U-joints

[PurpleTJAZ]

I am replacing my u-joints in my rear CV drive shaft again. They seen to last about a year before burning up. I have been using Spicer 5-1310x joints but this time I am going to the 5-1310-1x greaseable units. I was advised by @mrblaine to go to a "high speed" grease.

So is anyone using a high speed grease in their u-joints and if so what? Currently looking at Lucas X-TRA Heavy Duty Grease (Green) that states it is "The ultimate grease for high speed bearings" or Lawson Lube EP Multi purpose Calcium Sulfonate that states "suitable for high speed bearing" (also green). Both are NLGI 2 with 500 + drop point.

https://lucasoil.com/products/grease/lucas-x-tra-heavy-duty-grease
https://www.kent-automotive.com/Law...fonate-Grease/94312.ka?newSessionCreated=true

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Spicer's 5-1310x is normally a very long-lived, as in usually good for many years of even hard use, and is a highly durable u-joint. Something else is causing those u-joints to repeatedly fail. The problem is not being caused by the u-joints themselves. Are you experiencing any vibrations?

And who installed them? Were their bearing caps seated/pressed in too deeply so they were binding? I personally would not switch to a different u-joint, especially a less durable greasable like the 5-153x greasable equivalent. I would figure out the real underlying reason for the repeated failures and not just switch to a different u-joint.

 

[PurpleTJAZ]

Spicer's 5-1310x is normally a very long-lived and highly durable u-joint, something else is causing those u-joints to fail. Are you experiencing any vibrations?

And who installed them? Were they seated so tightly that they were binding? I personally would not switch to a different u-joint, especially a less durable greasable like the 5-153x greasable equivalent, until you figure out the true reason for the repeated failures.

Installed by a reputable local driveline shop that does a lot of off road vehicles, with all Spicer parts and re-balanced each time. No vibrations until the joints start to fail. I won't be using the 5-153x that had the body drilled for the grease fitting, rather the newer 5-1310-1x the uses the cap as the service point.

 

[mrblaine]

I am replacing my u-joints in my rear CV drive shaft again. They seen to last about a year before burning up. I have been using Spicer 5-1310x joints but this time I am going to the 5-1310-1x greaseable units. I was advised by @mrblaine to go to a "high speed" grease.

So is anyone using a high speed grease in their u-joints and if so what? Currently looking at Lucas X-TRA Heavy Duty Grease (Green) that states it is "The ultimate grease for high speed bearings" or Lawson Lube EP Multi purpose Calcium Sulfonate that states "suitable for high speed bearing" (also green). Both are NLGI 2 with 500 + drop point.

https://lucasoil.com/products/grease/lucas-x-tra-heavy-duty-grease
https://www.kent-automotive.com/Law...fonate-Grease/94312.ka?newSessionCreated=true

You aren't necessarily looking for a high speed grease as avoiding low speed high force lubes with a high moly content.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Installed by a reputable local driveline shop that does a lot of off road vehicles, with all Spicer parts and re-balanced each time. No vibrations until the joints start to fail. I won't be using the 5-153x that had the body drilled for the grease fitting, rather the newer 5-1310-1x the uses the cap as the service point.

Wow, that's really surprising. What size tires are you using and what type of offroading are you doing?

 

[PurpleTJAZ]

You aren't necessarily looking for a high speed grease as avoiding low speed high force lubes with a high moly content.

So nothing like a moly chassis grease you would use on ball joints or steering components. Any opinion (good or bad) on the two I am looking at? Is there a specific rating to look for other than "high speed"?

 

[mrblaine]

So nothing like a moly chassis grease you would use on ball joints or steering components. Any opinion (good or bad) on the two I am looking at? Is there a specific rating to look for other than "high speed"?

No idea.

 

[PurpleTJAZ]

Wow, that's really surprising. What size tires are you using and what type of offroading are you doing?

35" tires, 4" lift , 32rh trans, x-short SYE. Lots of Arizona rock crawling. Lots of ledges, boulders and sand...... Not a daily driver

 

[Jerry Bransford]

35" tires, 4" lift , 32rh trans, x-short SYE. Lots of Arizona rock crawling. Lots of ledges, boulders and sand...... Not a daily driver

That's not all that unusual or too stressful for a Spicer 5-1310x size u-joint. Your u-joint issues are surprising to me, I ran that same u-joint on very tough SoCal rock crawling trails for years and never had a u-joint problem.

 

[PurpleTJAZ]

I know . They should do fine. It is odd because I am not breaking them, they are just wearing out . This time I am putting grease able joints in an see if regular servicing gives me more life.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

I'm betting you'll really like that new 5-1310-1x, other than you'll always be thinking it is nagging you to 'grease me, grease me'. Which now that I think about it, I think I hear my CTMs on the axle shafts saying the same thing. Dammit.

 

[PurpleTJAZ]

I guess time will tell. Drive shaft should be ready tomorrow. I think I am going to try the Lucas X-TRA green stuff.
I usually crawl over and under the TJ after each run to access any damage and make sure I didn't rattle anything loose. I will just hang a grease gun next to the creeper and give them some attention while I'm under it.
The CTM's are the axle joints that use a bushing instead if roller bearings? Do you pull them out periodically for maintenance or can you service them in the axle?

 

[Jerry Bransford]

The CTM's are the axle joints that use a bushing instead if roller bearings? Do you pull them out periodically for maintenance or can you service them in the axle?

Yes, no needle bearings. No need to pull them out, they have needle-style zerk fittings and you just spin the wheel 90 degrees to access each zerk.