Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

We've been exploring the Skyline Dr. North to south here in Utah over the last few years. This would be part 4 .

Great scenery and fished a few lakes with no luck.
Unfortunately the trip was cut short .
Herd a LOUD bang coming back to camp in 2wd and pulled over to find a u-joint cap (left front axle) popped out during travel.
Luckily we was able to drive home safely.

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Ouch on the U-joint.

T

Picked up the shafts today.
I asked if they would put the "full circle" clips in but he said the factory clips will hold just fine.
I usually like to make sure carnage dosent happen again.

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Yeah that's what I usually get , but this guy said the maintenance free joints are tougher and last way longer. He didn't give me much of a choice, he just fixed it and said there ya go. Also gave me a newer stub shaft since mine was bent a bit.
We'll see I guess.

I did these shafts last year along with new unit bearings. Surprised it only lasted a year. So I'll let a pro try it this time.

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My experience has been the same with the "maintenance free".
They last a lot longer, but tend to progress more quickly from "I wonder if that's a U-joint" to:
"Hey, buddy, do you think you could pick up a U-joint in Heber and bring it to me 14 miles deep on Bob's road, at the top of Alby Basin?... Oh, and please grab a half inch deep-well socket, a 1" deep-well socket, a c-clamp, a big hammer, and enough adult beverages to get through the night. What? What? You can't hear me? Alright. I'll try a text."

No matter how well you think you've cleaned the nipple, debris gets pushed into a traditional U-joint every time you grease it.

I run "maintenance free" / "sealed for life" U-joints now. My life is easier and the U-joints' lives are longer.

At least you only lost a cap. Hopefully, the new one fits tightly enough to not repeat the disappearing act.

Yeah. Im glad I was able to get home and it didn't turn out to something worse.
Here's a few more pics WiFi-ed from my camera. This trip was re-living a childhood memory from my first 4wd experience.
I don't remember all this overgrowth though.



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