I've heard you guys talkin about the 297 and 5-760 spicer joints a lot and i've got a couple questions. I'm assuming your talking about the actual Spicer made Joints and the Spicer part #s correct? Now what is the difference between me buying the real spicer joint from a 4x4 shop, and buying a generic joint from pep boys or Kragen. Are the ones from parts stores different in any way? What is the actual difference. I would think that since they are OEM replacements they would be the same. I know some of you may think i'm just being cheap, but i'm really not. its more of a convenience issue. there are 3 parts stores within a 10 min walk from my house and the nearest 4x4 shop is a 35min drive away. so the way i see it if the spicer joint is $18.99 and the pep boys joint is $14.99 i not only save 4 bucks but i also save the 3 gallons of gas and an hour and a quarter of my time. So does it really matter or not?

Dallas

eveything can be a OEM replament part,
you ever buy a 10 dollar water pump from Kragen or something? were you shocked when it broke? :D

ok that answered my question real well :rolleyes:
what are the differences and why is one better than the other?
oh and btw i used to work at Kragen, and not everything they sell is crap, cheapskates just like to buy the shitty stuff.

Dallas

http://www.outdoorwire.com/4x4/jeep/tech/axle/760/dcp_0184.jpg
http://www.outdoorwire.com/4x4/jeep/tech/axle/760/dcp_0185.jpg
http://www.outdoorwire.com/4x4/jeep/tech/axle/760/dcp_0186.jpg
Oops, nevermind on the last pic, you'll never fit the 332 into a 44. :p

It's simple, Here is a scan of a U-joint I bought a Auto Zone. I comes with a lifetime warranty, Ever been to China? Are the tools you buy at Harbor freight as tuff as Snap-on or Mac?
Yea it's only a $7.63 ujoint but my GF desn't take her car off road

It's in the alloy!

ok so far i haven't gotten any hard cold facts on actual differences. just a bunch of guys sayin "its not Dana Spicer so it must suck."

Dallas

use what ever you want:flipoff2:
I dont own stock in spicer but i wont run the other guys stuff
do your own home work.
some one just posted huge images of spicer stuff so all you have to do is go to ripoff petes generic auto parts and buy any ujoint that doesnt say spicer or dana and compare it to the above images.
another trick is to compare the generic with the specs that are supposed to fit your application

Yup,

Only spicer for this ol boy.

Hey, we did some Rockwell hardness tests on the 297x and the new 760 joint.

297: 45 Rockwell "C" Scale

760: 54 Rockwell "C" Scale

May not be accurate as only two were tested and who knows the QC on those batches. It is exciting news for the Dana 44 boys though.

Next we are testing the 5-332x versus the SPL55-3x for my front 60.

Ed

Stinkbug,
It's obvious that your mind is already made up that your gonna cheap out and buy the off brand joints, so go buy them. Do me a favor first though. Go to the flee market and pick up a 40 piece socket set for $6, and see how long they last.
I bought flee market drill bits once, thinking "A bits a bit"...While they would have worked in balsa wood, as soon as they hit metal they just twisted into a pretzel... Pretty sad when you can bend a drill bit back and forth by hand...
I went off on a tangent, but you get the idea.

I have used neapco ujoints 3 times all three broke in the first 2 trips. 2 with 32's and one with 35's in an early bronco. On the other hand the Spicer 297's in there now lasted this whole season without one failure, and I have wheled them way harder. I have also broken many 297 unoints but they usually dont go that quick. I havent triec the 5-670 yet but they will be next forged is definately better than cast.

OK, the differences are:

Alloy,
process,
tooling and how often it's changed or sharpened
seal design
quality control....

Others may be good in all these areas too...who knows, but with Spicer you know.

Originally posted by Gordon
I have used neapco ujoints 3 times all three broke in the first 2 trips. 2 with 32's and one with 35's in an early bronco. On the other hand the Spicer 297's in there now lasted this whole season without one failure, and I have wheled them way harder. I have also broken many 297 unoints but they usually dont go that quick. I havent triec the 5-670 yet but they will be next forged is definately better than cast.

this is all i needed to hear. some actual experience and not a bunch of crap. I asked for actual comparisons and it took 15 replies to get one. Thank you Gordon i will now go buy the Spicer joint since you gave me an actual comparison between the 2 in the real world, and not just a bunch of BS about how they cant possibly be any good just because they come from a normal parts store and cost a couple bucks less. :rolleyes:

Dallas

Originally posted by StinkBug


this is all i needed to hear. some actual experience and not a bunch of crap. I asked for actual comparisons and it took 15 replies to get one.


Dallas

Well aren't we high maintenance Mr StinkyButt? :flipoff2: :flipoff2: :flipoff2: :flipoff2:

I thought I read on here that Neapco was making the joints for Spicer for the last few years, so maybe Gordon's "actual experience and not a bunch of crap" is a bunch of crap.

I didnt see much difference between his reply and the other 15

I don't know what they sell at Pep Boys or Kragens but as the other have said, the biggest difference between a "cheap" joint and a top quality joint is the strength of the alloy. Beyond that it is the manufacturing process and design. How much metal is in the parts that take the stress.

If the difference in price is only $4, call it cheap insurance at worst. $4 worth of insurance is cheap compared to replacing the u-joint and the axle on the trail some day.

Steve

PS If I need a tool once, I will look at Harbor Freight, if I need a tool for a lifetime, I look for Craftsman, Snap On, Mac etc.

Originally posted by Old Scout
It's simple, Here is a scan of a U-joint I bought a Auto Zone. I comes with a lifetime warranty, Ever been to China? Are the tools you buy at Harbor freight as tuff as Snap-on or Mac?
Yea it's only a $7.63 ujoint but my GF desn't take her car off road

It's in the alloy!

thats a neapco joint, they arent that bad, actually a fairly strong joint. the box was made in china, if you look in the upper left you will see the manufacturing buildings. One is in Sacramento. Weither or not that joint is a neapco joint in another box made for mark up i dunno, but i would trust neapco, i run them, their PD joints are one of the best joints to keep water, dirt, snow, mud, and anything else you can think of out of the joint. Best seals on the market at least on a u-joint