Best source for ujoints? Best Ujts?

[Lebowski]

I'm nolonger a fan of my electric grease gun. I can't tell if I got the joint properly greased so I'm back to using a lever action with flexible hose.

Really? I see grease coming out of all four cups so I assume it's greased well.


I'm now using John Deere SD Polyurea Grease everywhere. It is what JD initially uses to lube u-joints at the factory. After starting to use it on my toy's u-joints the pressed out grease is looking cleaner than ever before. They do have one that might be better for ball joints, but it's not likely all that much better. Oh, it should be about $3 to $4 a tube now with the increase in oil prices. The other thing is if you haven't been using a polyurea based grease then you want to clean out all the old grease before using.

I may try that grease out. I've been using synthetic grease exclusively for the last 12 years with great results. My last set of ujts lasted nearly 12 years on my other 4x4 which is a frequent water/mud truck (like 2 ft of water/mud slop) . Greased after every outing.

 

[Bogo]

There are some synthetics that farmers rave about. Mobil 1 Synthetic is one I keep hearing about. I don't know anything about it and haven't used it.

 

[missouriman]

So I went down to the local Toy dealer today, and whoever spoke to me on the phone was wrong. The ujts aren't $65 - they are $93. Ouch.
I think I"ll get some mail order stateside and save alittle.

EDIT: Anyone recommend a place to mail order OEM Toyota ujts from?
Who is C-dan - vendor? - in venor forum?

that has to be installed... no way.

 

[Lebowski]

No, not installed - I asked. That was the price for the ujt only.

I emailed Cruiser Dan, waiting to see what he has for price.

Marlin Crawler's reply to my enquiry for Toyota factory ujts was:
Our u-joints come directly from japan and are oem replacement. The cost on them is 20.00 dollars a joint.

I'll keep shopping for Toyota pieces.

 

[forestdan7]

So I went down to the local Toy dealer today, and whoever spoke to me on the phone was wrong. The ujts aren't $65 - they are $93. Ouch.
I think I"ll get some mail order stateside and save alittle.

EDIT: Anyone recommend a place to mail order OEM Toyota ujts from?
Who is C-dan - vendor? - in venor forum?

Make sure they know you're just talking about the spider itself. I've had the same problem at a dealer parts counter. They were looking at the whole joint, that presses into the driveshaft.

 

[Bear80]

The GMB (made in Japan) joints that NAPA sells are just fine to use. Not that it's much importance but they do have a lifetime warrenty. If anyone ever has to change one or breaks one I'll totatly eat my words.

NAPA also has two or three listed for the hilux trucks, however in the cheaper $18 box will be the exact GMB joint as the $24 box. Just open them up and check for the GMB logo on the cap ends. I will say that the zurks on these joints are smaller than the typical ones and require either the correct fitting or a tappered fitting on the grease gun.

 

[Tools R Us]

GMB's are good joints, I have no problems with them on a street vehicle. Like most joints they have a band type seal that goes over the outside of the cup and star. This type is more prone to damage and less effective at keeping moisture/debris out.

Toyota joints are very high quality, properly maintained they are pretty much a lifetime part. The #1 reason for failure is lube related, ether lack of or contamination. They have a triple lip seal that presses inside the cup, so protected from damage by the metal cup and very effective at keeping moisture/debris out and grease in. For this reason they are worth the extra money to me.

Mobil 1 Synthetic is a great grease. It gives up it's oil relatively easily, so does a fantastic job on high speed bearings, like wheel bearings. U-joints are high pressure, relatively low speed bearings, for that application a thicker, stickier grease is better. I have had great results from agriculture, contractor, tractor type greases. Among the automotive greases my favorite for u-joints is Valvoline semi synthetic it's a thick grease that stays in place better. But most of the agriculture/contractor greases have better water resistance.