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MG MGB Technical - Can one 'over grease' prop shaft UJ's

I have a 1980 B Roadster and the prop shaft UJs packed up at 65000 Ks (genuine Ks). They were the sealed type and bone dry, doubt is they ever had grease in them or very little from manufacture.
We replaced them with greaseable UJ's and packed them with grease when fitting. Working great now very happy chap.

I usaully do a suspension lube/grease anually, after about 3 to 5 thousand Ks and figured the UJs should get the same treatment, i.e. Pump in grease until the new grease shows on the UJs indicating the old grease is out. I work on the basis "grease is cheap compared to suspensine bushes, king pins and UJ's"! We do have some dirt roads in RSA so have always not spared the grease.

I was advised to leave them alone for 20000Ks as "too much grease will cause damage". That "damage" statement confused the hell out of me.

The question is "can one Over-grease" the UJs and therefore damage them? Surely the excess will work its way out as I would assume a greaseable UJ will have an exscape route for the excess?

Any advise please or comments? Thanks




R. E Bester

As you say, the lubrication is the total loss system: pumping clean stuff in until clean stuff comes out. I would say that the only problem is where the excess grease goes. The TÜV testers (like the MoT test) get upset at any excess lubricant and I always take care to wipe grease which has come off the UJs.

Mike
Mike Standring

You cant over grease UJ’s, you just make a bigger “grease mess”.

Richard.
RH Davidson

Ditto, excess grease helps to keep the tunnel from rusting. The whole point of greaseable UJs and sliding joints is that they can be greased at each service. I believe there has been something in the distant past about pumping in too much grease blowing out the seals, but if that is going to happen it is going to happen the first time you grease them, unless you know when to stop, which I don't. I can't see that greasing until a little comes out every 3k is going to be any different to every 20k, and I know mine take 2 or 3 full pumps at 3k, so I wouldn't like to leave them 20k! The whole point of grease nipples coming back to propshafts is so that us long-term owners can keep them going, they were deleted to make servicing cheaper for fleet owners who sell their cars on every 3 years or 30k.
P Hunt

I see no problem in this. In fact, I grease the sealed type U-joints
before installing them as I found many of them are coated with
cosmoline (a light, anti-rust preservative) or vaseline, only.

I also like the U-joints with the grease nipples - but after greasing
I remove the grease nipples and replace with a flush-mounted
set screw. I do this because, while driving, the nipples tend to bang into the U-Joint spider and break away.
Daniel Wong

Thanks for the comments. Looks like the way to go is every 3000k or annually apply the grease gun.
R. E Bester

"the nipples tend to bang into the U-Joint spider and break away" incorrect grease nipples, then :o(
P Hunt

There is a right and wrong way for the UJ's. The right way round even long nipples miss everything.

Richard.
RH Davidson

This thread was discussed between 21/01/2010 and 22/01/2010

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