Freelander 1 Universal Joint Circlip - Won't fit

Here's a new one! Changed many ujs over the years, while VCU was off, one was worn and so bought a new one. When fitted the Circlip grooves were not visible fully due to the length of the uj so can't get the clips in.

What is weirder is that the old won't go back in either dispite checking the uj pins are all in the right place and compressing the uj ends.

I think that it has failed because it was too tight. The yokes seem too narrow by about 1mm.

Anyone had this? It was an aftermarket front prop so maybe not to tolerance.

I'd suspect that the circlip grooves have been machined in the wrong place, i.e, they've been machined in too deep from the outer edge. You can shave the circlip down a bit, which will help, but make sure you reduce the thickness on the flat side, not the curved side, which goes to the outside.

Good plan! I think a tight uj is bad news as the ends are binding inside which will cause metal dust to go into the bearing.

What sort of free end play should I expect with a new bearing?

We get this on the truck props, need to sand down circlips, not easy to do neatly.
In fact so many have been messed up, they now send the props out for repair!

OK. So panel pinned them to a block of wood and flat filed the Circlip checking for uniformity all round with my vernier.
Reduced each from 1.3mm to 1mm and then they fit, just!! Slight compression on the uj with a couple of sockets and a G clamp. All good it seems. Old ones full of rusty oil and water so worth doing.

andyfreelandy said:

What sort of free end play should I expect with a new bearing?

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There should be no measurable sideways movement, maybe a couple of tenths of a thou, but a couple of tenths of a thou is pretty much beyond the measuring ability of most in a home workshop. I can't accurately measure below 1/2 a thou in my workshop, and I'm pretty well equipped in measuring department.

andyfreelandy said:

OK. So panel pinned them to a block of wood and flat filed the Circlip checking for uniformity all round with my vernier.
Reduced each from 1.3mm to 1mm and then they fit, just!! Slight compression on the uj with a couple of sockets and a G clamp. All good it seems. Old ones full of rusty oil and water so worth doing.

Click to expand...

You want a smooth articulation, without sideways movement, but it sounds like you're spot on.

Scania truck u/js always seem to have loads of lateral play on their prop u/j, but only in one plane, not thous but must be getting on for a millimetre?