it was bigdudes idea to post this, probably as a good laugh but what the hell, i'm curious :)




bigdude
Rock God

Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Brandon, FL
Member #6007
Posts: 1502
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/show...&threadid=66837

Check here for a few U-joint stories. They always go first. Start a post about "how many u-joints have you broke in your locked D30" and see what kind of responses you get. I think it'll be interesting and a good tool for future newbies using search



i don't see much difference between the 260 and the 297 joint but everyone says the 297 is stronger BUT how much stronger?

the 260,297 is a dimension in inches from end cap to end cap right? then the 297 is only 37 thousanths larger right? what other dims differ between the two?


bash me if you please but don't hurt me :)

pick one up in each hand and look down. then answer your own question. go find some pictures of a 260 next to a 297 next to a dana 60 joint next to a rockwell joint. they are around here if you can find them.

Originally posted by aaronlosey
pick one up in each hand and look down. then answer your own question. go find some pictures of a 260 next to a 297 next to a dana 60 joint next to a rockwell joint. they are around here if you can find them.

i have 260's now and putting in 297's. i measured each and see very little difference. they were not both side by side in my hand but give me a break- there isn't much difference. i'm not talking about a 60 or a rockwell- just the 260 vs 297.

I've broken 4 297 series joints and a few 260s (can't remember the exact #)

I never broke a single 297 joint until I went to 36s and locked the front end. Then they atarted popping like mad. Broke both crosses and spit out caps. Tack welded the caps and they lasted longer.

i was just talking about the natural progression of size relationships. and, you can look at the pics because they both were in there. or you can go look at the ones rusting in my tool box.

the real question is how strong are the spicer joints compared to the "brute force" knock offs that you get at auto zone. those little babies (the brute forces) have a life time warranty. they actually replaced about 3 in a row for me without bitching. then i felt bad and quit talking them back, cause it was kinda my fault they were breaking..

Originally posted by aaronlosey
i was just talking about the natural progression of size relationships. and, you can look at the pics because they both were in there. or you can go look at the ones rusting in my tool box.

the real question is how strong are the spicer joints compared to the "brute force" knock offs that you get at auto zone. those little babies (the brute forces) have a life time warranty. they actually replaced about 3 in a row for me without bitching. then i felt bad and quit talking them back, cause it was kinda my fault they were breaking..

roger that :)

i was just looking for an engineering type answer to the strength diff in the two joints as they are so close to the same size from my perspective.

LOL not very long :flipoff2:

Anecdotal evidence to the rescue.
Same hard trail, near identical rigs, drivetrains, same driving style.
3 260 ujoints in 150 feet on one vehicle. Other had 297's and broke nothing.

I would give it 2.3 seconds in my rig... :flipoff2:

Depends on how much weight you run on the stupid pedal:flipoff2:

Just as long as a 297X in a 44:flipoff2: :rolleyes: :flipoff2:

the Spicer ones may not be much different, but you can get CTMs for the 297 but not for the 260. So the difference between a 260 spicer and a 297 CTM is quite large.

Originally posted by BrettM
the Spicer ones may not be much different, but you can get CTMs for the 297 but not for the 260. So the difference between a 260 spicer and a 297 CTM is quite large.

That's awesome info. Especially since it fits the question so well. I can't believe it's never been posted or explained on this site 1K times :shaking:

I was under the impression that the caps where larger on the 297 joint.

260 joint cap dia. =1 1/16"
297 joint cap dia. = 1 1/8"

other than that I dont know if there is much difference.

the real question is how strong are the spicer joints compared to the "brute force" knock offs that you get at auto zone. those little babies (the brute forces) have a life time warranty. they actually replaced about 3 in a row for me without bitching. then i felt bad and quit talking them back, cause it was kinda my fault they were breaking..


AutoZone's and Napa's top grade joints are made by Dana Spicer.

I just got some spare 30 axle assys and they have autozone joints in them and the caps have Spicer stamped into them.

Stored in the box, probably 50-100 years. I guess it really depends on what the seals are made of.

If I remember correctly, Jim Allen's Jeep Performance Handbook quotes a Spicer source as saying that the 297-X is approximately 30% stronger than the 260-X.

I can't vouch for this, but that's what Jim said and it's at least been published, so it's probably been fact-checked.

HTH,
Jake

Originally posted by bigdude


That's awesome info. Especially since it fits the question so well. I can't believe it's never been posted or explained on this site 1K times :shaking:

Well, you ask a simple question, you get a simple answer. :flipoff2:

Originally posted by BrettM


Well, you ask a simple question, you get a simple answer. :flipoff2:

I didn't ask any question. I made a smartass suggestion because I thought it was funny. next thing I know it looks like I give a shit :flipoff2:

I want to know how many U-joints you've broke in your locked D60? You have any help for me there BrettM?

Yup, between 20% and 30% strenght difference between a 260 and 297, according to Jim Allen, use a good quality joint, and you might actually make it last 30% longer, grind your shafts to accept full circle clips and you won't gain any strength, but you'll eliminate the caps walking out after the clips fall out. I just broke another 297 at a wedding last weekend (I was messing around in the rock pile next door to the reception) so I'm thinking CTM's in the near future.

how long is a piece of string:flipoff2:

Just get 297's for your D30 for Christs sake. They are stronger. Face it! Just put x297's in or buy a 60.

Originally posted by The Rockslut
Just get 297's for your D30 for Christs sake. They are stronger. Face it! Just put x297's in or buy a 60. Thank you for stopping the cackling of the hens. Seriously thicker steel means harder to break end of story. How much stronger who cares its stronger and that may be the difference for someone to have to crawl under their rig on the trail in the hot fawking sun and change it out:flipoff2: Hey Rockslut did you go to Mesa Verde H.S. in Citrus Heights I did. And since we may have gone to the same school can I have your 60 and 70 so I won't break u-joints as often?:D :goofball: