I removed and disassembled the rear axle in the T I now use for touring. I was addressing oil leaks caused by worn axle shafts (replacement axles purchased a number of years ago).
What I also found was a badly worn universal joint. The journals on the piece coming out of the transmission were about 25% worn away on the thrust side. The journals on the piece coming out of the drive shaft are excellent. The piece coming out of the transmission is also marked Ford and the assembly is riveted together.
What could have caused this uneven wear, poor heat treating?
I had the rearend out about 7 or 8 years ago, but didn't have the drive shaft apart.
Did you keep the u-joint housing full of grease?
Did you have a good look at it 7 or 8 years ago? Any wear back then? How much have you driven since?
Roger
I didn't have the u-joint off then, I wasn't aware of a problem.
I do grease the u-joint, but I was surprised how little grease was in it. There must be enough oil getting by the 4th main to flush it out. Again why did the journals wear at different rates. I would think that since all the journals work on the same plane the wear would be fairly equal.
A single joint in the line has a lot to do with it. Look in the book; it'll give you .010 to .012 clearance with a feeler gage. Mine was sloppy as could be and showed .008
The ball surrounding the U Joint must be packed with grease completely or the U joint wears out in no time.
I can slip a !/4 drill bit in to the gap of the badly worn journals, the other journals are about .014
Yea, I wiil be greasing it with more grease more often.
My other T which I have owned for 50 years has not had any u-joint issues (may be I ought look!) Years ago I was not kind to it.