> I got no responses on this last time, so I'll rephrase and try again:
>
> BACKGROUND:
> '79 MGB Existing front universal had a lube fitting, the rear was sealed
>
> The Owner's manual and the maintenance items section of the factory manual
> don't show the universals as a maintenance item...
>
> HOWEVER, both the factory manual and Haynes show a picture of the propeller
> shaft showing a long-necked lube fitting at the front universal!
>
> QUESTION:
> Were sealed universals stock on '79 MGB's?
I don't know. I've had both sealed and greasable u-joints on my '67 B
(the driveshafts only differ in length) and the sealed ones lasted just
as long because I never remember to grease the u-joints even when I can.
> WHY DO I WANT TO KNOW?
> I don't want to have to remove a drive shaft prematurely to remove a broken
> off zerk fitting.
>
> The front universal I removed had a fitting broken off at the base. When I
> installed a new universal (shipped with fitting) I noticed the fitting limits
> the universal travel to almost nothing! I installed a short fitting. I
> ordered the back uni' separately, and got the same fitting.
>
> If you've done a universal replacement with fittings on a late model 'B, I'd
> be grateful if you'd crawl under your car and tell me if you still have
> fittings, or whether they were broken off by the last big dip in the road.
>
> Thanks in advance for answers,
>
> Sean Johnson
> '79 MGB
According to my buddy Al at British Foreign, there's a particular orientation
in which the u-joints need to be installed. For both front and rear u-joints,
the grease fitting should point towards the driveshaft, meaning the front
one should point back and the back one front. In addition, there's a cutout
one one side of the driveshaft for the grease fitting, so even if you've got
the u-joint facing the right way, you could have it rotated 180 degrees out.
However, he says that there's so little movement in the front u-joint that
even if you got it in wrong, the grease fitting wouldn't break off.
According to San Diego Driveline, the best u-joint for a B is made by Neapco
and they have short grease fittings. I have these in the drive shaft for the
car that isn't running yet. I have some cheap u-joints with short grease
fittings in the B I drive every day, and the grease fittings were still there
when I was looking for loose parts over the weekend. But it didn't occur to
me to grease them. Hope this helps.
Denise Thorpe
thorpe@kegs.saic.com
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