A question for those who have ACTUALLY installed the center u joint on a 1960-1964 Impala that has a two piece driveshaft: Does the u joint's grease fitting face forward or face the back of the car? I know it sounds like a trivial question but it is important that I can verify factory specs on this matter. If someone has a Chilton book that discusses this that would be great.
I just did one this weekend. I faced mine rearward. The part numbers I found online called for sealed units, but I couldn't find one.
I just checked my 59 edition Motors, and 71 edition Chiltons; it says nothing about the direction the middle U-joint as far as the grease zerk direction. I even looked at Pont and Olds, same thing. Sorry. Butch/56sedandelivery.
I changed one many moons ago on a '62 I owned at the time. Seem to remember the grease fitting being towards rear side, but I wouldn't wager a concours bet on it.
These guys discussed this recently. Go there. http://www.348-409.com/forum/index.php?threads/u-joint-for-driveshaft.23620/#post-204891
ujoints dont care which direction they face, the bearings turn either way. the only reason i can think of to have it face one way or the other is for ease of access to get a grease gun on it
The best center U joint bearing I've seen is a non greaseable polyurethane bearing made by Inland Empire Driveline.
He's not asking about the carrier bearing, all of which are sealed and non-greasable. He's asking about the u-joint. Direction of the u-joint doesn't matter unless the zerk hits the head of the bolt that retains the joke on the forward section. Face it rearward just to be safe.
^^^that's it, Steve did they screw up the carrier bearing when they did that? I'm guessing you have a bad vibration still???
Thanks guys for the input. Essentially my mechanic installed it face forward and the zerk did damage the bolt to the yoke and cause all kinds of damage since this caused binding when spinning. Im now looking for do***entation to substantiate this to plead my case. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Do you need any evidence beyond the messed up parts caused by the zerk hitting things?? Seems pretty straight forward. and mine faces the back, but I also added a slip joint to save my carrier bearing from immanent destruction.
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