New type Ujoint for 53 cranbrook

[Lakermatt]

Hey guys, has anyone converted their ball and trunion type ujoints to a open end driveline? I want to be able to airbag this car and will need to get out of the closed drive line situation. Please let me know. I am wondering if I could have a driveline shop weld different yokes on both ends...

[TodFitch]

I am a bit confused about what you are about here.

The original style is not a "closed drive line" like Fords and many other cars used in the 30s and 40s (maybe into the 50s). It is an open drive line.

Are you saying that the original style drive shaft can't handle the change in length needed by you because of a proposed large change in axle position?

On the ball and trunnion U-Joints the change in length needed to account for axle movement is handled by the centering springs inside the joint. If you are having a shop weld modern U-joint yokes on the end of the original shaft you'll end up with a shaft that can't change length at all which is a bad thing. Better to simply have a new drive shaft made up from scratch that has a splined section to accomplish what the spring loaded housings do in the original.

[Lakermatt]

Well.. It has a rubber boot on both ends so I thought it was a closed driveline. I guess I will have to try it out first. I just don't want to be buying new ujoints every month when I use the airbags.

[desoto1939]

The rubber boot that is on both ends is used to prevent dirt and crud and to help prevent water from getting into the ujoint housing. The end of the shaft has a rod that then has a ball onthe end inwhich the pin goes throught. The rubber boot and the older style used a leather cover goes over the rod and covers the opening that goings into the housing. If the boot is not ther then the crud get into the interanl workings of the ujoint and then you also lose the grease.

As stated previously if you are going to go to the modern cross joint go for Spicer joints with the slip joint. The cost of anentire new driveshaft will be around 400-450. The old Detroit unjoint with the internal parts will runf you about 200 for each joint so you have 400 and then the cost of installing. The pin needs to be centered correctly in the ball so that you do not get any vibrations.

Go for the newer joint and then any shop can replace the joint in the future and it will be cheaper inthe long run. Also get the new driveshaft balanced.

I have the NOS Detroit U joint and the internal and the leather boots if you want to go in that direction.

Rich Hartung

Desoto1939@aol.com