Club Cobra
Page 1 of 2 1 2
Show 20 post(s) from this thread on one page

Club Cobra (http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/)
-   ERA---Speak with Bob Putnam (http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/era-speak-bob-putnam/)
-   -   grease fitting access (http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/era-speak-bob-putnam/100307-grease-fitting-access.html)

PeteF 10-15-2009 05:38 PM
grease fitting access
 
I did an oil change and grease job on 2041 last weekend. I could access all the grease fittings except the driveshaft. Any advice on how to get to them from underneath, or does the tunnel have to come off ? The car has 39,000 miles, so how important is it to grease the driveshaft u-joints.......how often do you guys do this? thanks

patrickt 10-15-2009 05:55 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by PeteF (Post 993676)
I did an oil change and grease job on 2041 last weekend. I could access all the grease fittings except the driveshaft. Any advice on how to get to them from underneath, or does the tunnel have to come off ? The car has 39,000 miles, so how important is it to grease the driveshaft u-joints.......how often do you guys do this? thanks
It's really important to grease them, and the front drive shaft u-joint can be a real bitc_ to get to. Here's a Spicer video I posted a couple of years ago showing you the proper method of purging the four posts. http://ujoint.kickme.to You should purge them at least every 10,000 miles or so. Since you can't get to it from beneath, I would first try removing the four screws that hold the shifter boot ring and see if you can get to it with a longer extension through that hole. If you can't do it that way, then your next option is to remove tha passenger seat and cut a small access panel under the carpet and through the tunnel. That would be pretty quick and easy. Your final option is to remove the tunnel.

EDIT -- What's blocking the rear drive shaft u-joint? That one is usually easier to get to, at least on my car -- FIAs must be different.

PeteF 10-15-2009 06:24 PM
grease fitting access
 
Wow, there's more to it than I thought. When I couldn't see the front u-joint, I didn't try to see the rear. And, I didn't have the car very high on jack stands, so it was hard to get a good view. I'll try again at next opportunity, per your suggestions. Thanks for the quick reply.

patrickt 10-15-2009 06:28 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by PeteF (Post 993683)
When I couldn't see the front u-joint, I didn't try to see the rear.
I think you'll find the rear one to be pretty easy -- it is on my car. And I think with a long extension and a swivel head that you can get the front one via the shifter boot hole. Somewhere I've got a picture that I took of the front u-joint through the shifter boot hole. I'll see if I can find it and post it.

patrickt 10-15-2009 06:34 PM
Here's a Shot
 
OK, this is what it looks like through the shift boot hole. I think you can do it:

http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...rearujoint.jpg

PeteF 10-15-2009 07:21 PM
grease fitting access
 
Fantastic! Thanks for the help and photo, I really appreciate it.

209 10-15-2009 08:56 PM
patrickt,
I'm in awe at your knowledge, experience, patience, and cool at which you answer a lost soul's dire questions. :cool: I'm new to this forum and a new owner also and am one happy dude to have people like you answering our seemingly difficult questions. Actually there are several of you but you seem to come to mind. Thank you. :cool: 209

patrickt 10-16-2009 05:13 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by 209 (Post 993721)
patrickt,
I'm in awe at your knowledge, experience, patience, and cool at which you answer a lost soul's dire questions. :cool: I'm new to this forum and a new owner also and am one happy dude to have people like you answering our seemingly difficult questions. Actually there are several of you but you seem to come to mind. Thank you. :cool: 209
Yes, I think both RodKnock & ERAChas will agree with you that I am indeed the salt of the earth.;)

strictlypersonl 10-16-2009 05:44 AM
Next time I have access to a car-in-progress with a visible driveshaft, I'll see whether I can build in an access hole for the front grease fitting. I've got a top-view picture of a Richmond Gear setup and it looks "interesting" for an oval hole that covers the varying length of the shafts necessary for all the transmissions that we support. It's pretty close.

Alternately, maybe a hole in the tunnel with a snap-in plug (with a piece of carpet glued on) might be the best approach.

dcdoug 10-16-2009 05:50 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by patrickt (Post 993751)
Yes, I think both RodKnock & ERAChas will agree with you that I am indeed the salt of the earth.;)
Modest too...:p

ERA Chas 10-16-2009 06:25 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by patrickt (Post 993751)
Yes, I think both RodKnock & ERAChas will agree with you that I am indeed the salt of the earth.;)

SALT is not the term that comes to my mind...:rolleyes:

And you Rod?

tboneheller 10-16-2009 06:29 AM
You could always install a set of Ford u-joints that do not have a grease fitting. No need to grease them, just replace them about every 150,000 miles.

patrickt 10-16-2009 07:33 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by tboneheller (Post 993761)
You could always install a set of Ford u-joints that do not have a grease fitting. No need to grease them, just replace them about every 150,000 miles.
Everything that I have read from Spicer (and other manufacturers) seems to indicate that for our Cobras the greaseless u-joints would be just as good, if not better, than the greasable ones. But it's easier now to just grease them than it is to replace them.

patrickt 10-16-2009 07:35 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by ERA Chas (Post 993759)
SALT is not the term that comes to my mind...:rolleyes:
Sugar, perhaps? http://www.capitalareacobraclub.com/...e1/smitten.gif

strictlypersonl 10-16-2009 08:22 AM
I will ask our driveshaft expert whether he thinks that a permanent (greaseless) joint would work better in our situation.

Jerry Clayton 10-16-2009 08:33 AM
The permanent ones are better because they are stronger, the fact that you don't need to grease them is secondary

CCX 33239 10-16-2009 10:00 AM
The greaseless u-joints are a good way to go if you have access problems. On my Contemporary, I have easy access to the rear and I can drop the drive shaft out in 10 minutes time for the front. So, I've stuck with the greaseable guys. I will probably change if they need replacement.

CJ428CJ 10-16-2009 03:59 PM
I went greaseless after this happened:

http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...001_Small_.jpg

This was a Spicer u-joint with only about 15 or 20,000 miles on it.

PeteF 10-16-2009 04:32 PM
grease fitting access
 
Now I'm wondering how the greaseless design can get 150,000 miles.......what magic allows that? Must be newer technology grease......thanks again to all of you for the sharing of knowledge and experience. That last photo is worth 1000 words. I assume it gave no advance warning, or you would have done something......I expected I would hear or feel something.

ERA Chas 10-16-2009 04:40 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by CJ428CJ (Post 993859)
I went greaseless after this happened:

http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...001_Small_.jpg

This was a Spicer u-joint with only about 15 or 20,000 miles on it.
How did that happen? Were you at the track with slicks on?
Please share that story.


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 11:45 PM.
Page 1 of 2 1 2
Show 20 post(s) from this thread on one page

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.0
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0
The representations expressed are the representations and opinions of the clubcobra.com forum members and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and viewpoints of the site owners, moderators, Shelby American, any other replica manufacturer, Ford Motor Company. This website has been planned and developed by clubcobra.com and its forum members and should not be construed as being endorsed by Ford Motor Company, or Shelby American or any other manufacturer unless expressly noted by that entity. "Cobra" and the Cobra logo are registered trademarks for Ford Motor Co., Inc. clubcobra.com forum members agree not to post any copyrighted material unless the copyrighted material is owned by you. Although we do not and cannot review the messages posted and are not responsible for the content of any of these messages, we reserve the right to delete any message for any reason whatsoever. You remain solely responsible for the content of your messages, and you agree to indemnify and hold us harmless with respect to any claim based upon transmission of your message(s). Thank you for visiting clubcobra.com. For full policy documentation refer to the following link: