types of deuce steering axles

[wreckerman893]

I had a call today from a guy that wants a deuce steering axle.

He only wants a U-Joint type axle.

How do you tell them apart....what is the other kind???

 

[gimpyrobb]

Rip open the boot and jam your hand in there. If you feel a U-joint, thats what you got. If you don't, you don't.

 

[jwaller]

they are very different. think u joint or the same type thing you see on fwd cars. cv joint.

 

[cranetruck]

The original deuces (M135) had CV joints, the M35 use U-joints. You notice the "wobble" when turning the M35 with the front axle engaged.
If you can find the CV-joints, they will fit in the M35 axle housings, but may need a different seal, that's all.
When at Barstow, CA back in '06, there was a bin filled with CV-joints...

 

[TaylorTradingCo]

joint types

This won't help with how to identify the different types, but it helps one to understand what they are. This picture was given to me by a rock crawler dude who buys axles from me, I forgot which one, sorry.

Derek Taylor

 

[gringeltaube]

.............How do you tell them apart....what is the other kind???

We already had this here.....

G.

 

[mdmorgan]

sorry for the link but go to page 5 they give a little more detail about your ?
2 1/2 Ton Rockwell Axle Install - Shaft Styles - JP Magazine

the link is to page 5

 

[m16ty]

The only axles I've seen with the ball type joint were Timken axles. I'm not saying none of the Rockwells have ball type joint but every Rockwell I've seen had u-joints.

I've always just cut the boot and feel in there to make sure. The buyers don't seem to mind you cutting the boot. Most of the time they want to feel in there also to confirm what you told them.

 

[TaylorTradingCo]

another front axle question

Does it matter to rock crawlers, nud boggers or other custom builders if the axle is air actuated or sprague?

Derek Taylor

 

[Westech]

Does it matter to rock crawlers, nud boggers or other custom builders if the axle is air actuated or sprague?

Derek Taylor

Huh? the transfer case is sprag or air shift... not the front axle

 

[derby]

It is strange that the CV type are weaker, they have so much surface area to spread the power. Why do all (or most) front wheel drive cars have the CV type? My wives Saturn is fwd CV and between what it weigh's and can tow is about 9500lbs and has 275hp.

 

[stumps]

It's all about smoothness of power flow. To go to the logical extreme, imagine a U-joint set at 90 degrees. It would block and not turn. But at 45 degrees, the power will still flow, but it will be lumpy. CV joints transfer power smoothly at any angle they are rated to bend.

-Chuck

 

[ODdave]

It is strange that the CV type are weaker, they have so much surface area to spread the power. Why do all (or most) front wheel drive cars have the CV type? My wives Saturn is fwd CV and between what it weigh's and can tow is about 9500lbs and has 275hp.

i belive it is the materials and process in which they where made is what deemed the cv joint axles weaker, same with the repeza joint

 

[KsM715]

If you read thru all the links you'll find out the cv joint is not weaker but the axle shaft on the cv type is the weak link. supposedly they are brittle and wont twist but just snap instead. The shafts on the U-joint style are made to allow the axle to twist some and absord some of the shock load before breaking.

After reading all of this there apprears to be know way of knowing for sure what type of joint is in the axle with out sticking your fingers in there to find out.

Edit: ODdave types much faster than I do.

 

[m16ty]

Why do all (or most) front wheel drive cars have the CV type? My wives Saturn is fwd CV and between what it weigh's and can tow is about 9500lbs and has 275hp.

Whenever a u-joint isn't straight the velocity of the shaft speeds up and slows down as the axle turns. That's why when you cut sharp in the deuce or cucv with 4X4 engaged the front end trys lunge forward. It's the shaft changing velocity.

A CV joint is just that "constant velocity". It's basicly two u-joints in one. When into a turn the velocity is changed by one joint and the other joint is 180deg different so it cancels the velocity change out. This is also why you have to "time" driveshafts, so the velocity change will cancel itself out and not send it to the rear axle.