The Ford Barn

steve hackel · 03-19-2018, 12:39 AM

Hello; this is my present situation..... I bought a rebuild kit for the "U" joint that I removed from my car - yes, it is the rebuildable style - the kit I bought did come from Macs', not my choice but that is where it originally came from anyway.
The plastic bag is still sealed from the supplier, but there are NO snap rings or wire lock rings to hold the ends in place. No one sells them individually and I need a set to complete this - anyone have a spare set, or can someone tell me how to make them and out of what? Thanks, Steve

Synchro909 · 03-19-2018, 05:00 AM

Can you reuse the ones you have?

Growley bear · 03-19-2018, 07:39 AM

I use a coil spring from the hardware store; same diameter wire and spring diameter. Cut pieces from spring finish off ends and install. Works just fine.

Growley bear · 03-19-2018, 08:08 AM

If you are in a creative mood, lay a the shank of a drill (bit) in the groove of the bearing to find the diameter of the needed wire and obtain a length of piano/music wire and make lock rings from scratch. Hope this helps.

100IH · 03-19-2018, 10:26 AM

If you have a "Driveline Service" business near you they do u-joints all day. T
hey may have a bucket of clips you could rummage through or a big supply of new ones.

ursus · 03-19-2018, 10:48 AM

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I am familiar with your predicament. I was never able to find the retainer rings available outside of the rebuild kits but maybe somebody that knows their way around the universe of hardware fasteners has a source.

I was able to find some of the flat circlips commonly available nowadays and grind the lower ends to fit into the space around the shafts, but it took a lot of careful grinding and fitting. The originals are round in section and made of spring steel, so Growley Bear's idea of using spring stock seems a better way.

steve hackel · 03-19-2018, 04:09 PM

I like the idea of using a coil spring and then making the insert clips from the sections I cut out. It's only wire diameter & coil diameter - really great suggestion. Thanks!

03-19-2018, 12:39 AM	#1
steve hackel Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: midlothian illinois Posts: 447	Rebuildable "U" joints ? Hello; this is my present situation..... I bought a rebuild kit for the "U" joint that I removed from my car - yes, it is the rebuildable style - the kit I bought did come from Macs', not my choice but that is where it originally came from anyway. The plastic bag is still sealed from the supplier, but there are NO snap rings or wire lock rings to hold the ends in place. No one sells them individually and I need a set to complete this - anyone have a spare set, or can someone tell me how to make them and out of what? Thanks, Steve

03-19-2018, 05:00 AM	#2
Synchro909 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 7,496	Re: Rebuildable "U" joints ? Can you reuse the ones you have? __________________ I'm part of the only ever generation with an analogue childhood and a digital adulthood.

03-19-2018, 07:39 AM	#3
Growley bear Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 777	Re: Rebuildable "U" joints ? I use a coil spring from the hardware store; same diameter wire and spring diameter. Cut pieces from spring finish off ends and install. Works just fine.

03-19-2018, 08:08 AM	#4
Growley bear Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 777	Re: Rebuildable "U" joints ? If you are in a creative mood, lay a the shank of a drill (bit) in the groove of the bearing to find the diameter of the needed wire and obtain a length of piano/music wire and make lock rings from scratch. Hope this helps.

03-19-2018, 10:26 AM	#5
100IH Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: SW Idaho Posts: 970	Re: Rebuildable "U" joints ? If you have a "Driveline Service" business near you they do u-joints all day. T hey may have a bucket of clips you could rummage through or a big supply of new ones.

03-19-2018, 10:48 AM	#6
ursus Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,375	Re: Rebuildable "U" joints ? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I am familiar with your predicament. I was never able to find the retainer rings available outside of the rebuild kits but maybe somebody that knows their way around the universe of hardware fasteners has a source. I was able to find some of the flat circlips commonly available nowadays and grind the lower ends to fit into the space around the shafts, but it took a lot of careful grinding and fitting. The originals are round in section and made of spring steel, so Growley Bear's idea of using spring stock seems a better way.

03-19-2018, 04:09 PM	#7
steve hackel Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: midlothian illinois Posts: 447	Re: Rebuildable "U" joints ? I like the idea of using a coil spring and then making the insert clips from the sections I cut out. It's only wire diameter & coil diameter - really great suggestion. Thanks!