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TR2/3/3A U-joint choice TR3A prop-shaft

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NutmegCT

NutmegCT

Great Pumpkin
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The one on the left is from Advance Auto; note the "plug-in" zerk (which came uninstalled).

The one on the right came from Moss; note the different placement of the zerk.

Which u-joint would you use? (optical illusion - they're really both the same size ...)

Thanks.
Tom
 
I've never seen one with the zerk on an end cap. It would be easier to get to it with a greese gun.
 
Someone was selling the cap zerk type recently as "high-performance" universals.

My opinion would be to use Hardy Spicer brand replacements.
 
The Advance Auto one would nake me nervous. The ends of the caps tend to be thin. My guess is that they shortened the needle bearings to allow for more metal so it can be threaded. I don't like the thought of smaller bearings.
The fitting would probably need to be replaced with a set screw for clearance purposes. You would have to tighten the set screw tight enough so it wouldn't vibrate out, but not so tight as to shatter the hardened steel(and brittle) of the cap.
I wouldn't be surprised if the outside of the box read India.
 
Thanks for the advice. As I've never replaced uj's before, I don't know what to "watch out for".

By the way, the Advance PDQ joints say "made in USA" (by Neapco). Interesting point about the thinner caps.

Tom
 
Does this mean that Moss no longer supplies Hardy-Spicer U-joints? Last set I got from them came in that familiar green-black-white H-S box.
 
Neapco is an old company with a good reputation. I've replaced virtually hundreds of u-joints with the Neapco name without any problems. They also package their parts under many private lables, I believe.

I wouldn't have any problems with their parts as long as they are truly US made and not out-sourced to India or the far-east.
 
YankeeTR said:
Neapco is an old company with a good reputation. I've replaced virtually hundreds of u-joints with the Neapco name without any problems. They also package their parts under many private lables, I believe.

I wouldn't have any problems with their parts as long as they are truly US made and not out-sourced to India or the far-east.
Click to expand...

I agree. Goodparts sells Neapco u-joints like those pictured. They are very good quality and heavier duty than the originals.
 
I've never seen u-joints with tapped cups either. The Triumph u-joints I've bought from Advance were all just like the sample you show from Moss.

Since you have both joints, take the cups off the u-joints and measure the length of the spiders and examine the length of the needle rollers as Doug F suggested above. If you decide to use the tapped cap joints I agree that you'll probably need to remove the zerk and replace it with a screw.
 
On a TR3/A, I'd go with the Moss unit & long zerk as original. I don't have any trouble getting to them with a grease gun.

Situation might be different on a TR6 though, especially on the half shafts where the joints work through a much larger angle.
 
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