Was just told I need to replace both front axle shaft U joins. I do not want to use OEM Dodge parts ($240.00 ) if I did not like OEM was told to use Moog joint they have a grease Zerk, but are they the best one to use? I will say I am surprised that they started to fail and make noise at 77K being it does it see any off road use, its had a pampered life. I will say was surprised the repair quote was $619.00 if I use OEM Dodge Joints.

TIA for your help.

Charles

 

I have ditched the failure prone AAM u-joints on many 3rd gen trucks and replaced them with Spicer Life NON-greasable joints, and they are the only u-joint I will use.

I find them much more reliable than greasable joints because the seals are far more positive, and keep moisture and gunk from getting in. By design, greasable joints have a less rigid seal, because the seal needs to let old grease out as new is pumped in.

http://www2.dana.com/expert/

 

X2 on the Spicer Lifetime u joints.

There USED to be a fitment problem when used with AAM axles, but Spicer has released an application specific ujoint for the AAM/dodge front axle shafts. It is Spicer part #5006813. I bought mine from George at 8lug Truck Gear..he patiently answered my many questions and offered me more then fair prices on them (though to be fair, I was also buying a DynaTrac freespin kit and Carli balljoints at the same time..lol) Still, he is extremely knowledgable, friendly and has top shelf customer service, as well as decent prices.

 

I used AAMs again, every shop I talked to has had bad luck with the Spicers, including the application specific joint. The best results where always with the AAM joints.

The shop that did my work uses Spicers everywhere but the front axle joints.

 

I've had good luck with spicers on my rolling stock. But I've heard that some of their product line in now made in China. Here's a Canuck advising you to make sure what you're buying is made in USA. The metallurgy and tolerances of the USA items can be counted on. Just my two cents.

 

Dodge is now telling me there are 3 different U-joins that were used in the 2006, so had to wait until axle was pulled to know what one to get so my truck is sitting at dodge not fixed because they cant get the right After Market U-joins until Monday as they hunted all over north Iowa looking for part, claimed one parts house sent two different U joins one greaseable and one sealed. The service idiot told me if I would of used Dodge junk they could have had it fixed today grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.