Spicer No Secrets: Cardan Installation and Maintenance

In four steps, you can perform a service with all the original Spicer quality: 1 - Identify 2 - Lubricate 3 - Evaluate 4 - Replace

Respect the lubrication intervals: if the cardan shaft is immersed in water or mud (when facing floods, crossing streams, working in rice fields, among other similar situations), it is ideal to re-lubricate it.

Use the Right Grease: The biggest cause of problems in crosspieces and sliding joints is the use of the wrong grease. Don't try to save money by using another type of grease. The damage to the driveshaft will be much greater.

Cleaning is Fundamental: Before starting lubrication, you must: 1 - Clean and assess the condition of the grease fittings on each crosshead. 2 - Check that the grease machine does not have any remains of old grease or other type of grease. 3 - In pneumatic systems, check that the air is not contaminated with water or oil.

Look for the Causes: before carrying out any maintenance on the cardan, the mechanic must listen to whoever drives the vehicle. Complaints of vibrations or noises, such as the famous “bell sound”, generally indicate problems.

Next, inspect the entire driveshaft assembly, from the gearbox to the differential.

Look for cracks, dents or loss of the balance weights welded to the tubes.

Pay attention to noises, looseness or breaks in the bearings.

Check for gaps or cracks in the universal joints.

Check for crossbars with mirrored covers, fixing problems, lack of tightness or other defects.

Look for gaps in the slip joint.

Are there any poorly made adjustments or repairs? They can alter the operation of the cardan.

Mark the Pieces. If you need to remove the cardan from the vehicle, the ideal is to mark the position of all the parts. Use an industrial marker (or paint and brush) to make marks before disassembly.

You will notice that some parts, like the slip joint, even have engraved markings.

Correct positioning is essential. If there is an error, the cardan will break with the slightest effort.

Work Correctly: After marking the position of the parts, separate the necessary tools and begin disassembly.

Many vehicles use torx screws. Do not attempt to remove them using hex sockets. Since they are large and heavy parts, it is best to work in pairs. If necessary, use a hoist.

When transporting, be careful not to hit the cardan or let any part fall to the ground.

Cleaning and Organization: Before starting the repair on the driveshaft, it is necessary to clean all the parts and the work area. It is also very important to have the right tools on hand, clean and organized.

Don't Mix Things Up: Quality maintenance starts with the selection and purchase of parts. Never mix products from different brands in the universal joint or sliding joint. Each manufacturer works in a different way and the result of this “mixing” never ends well. The components won't fit together properly or will have gaps different from those indicated.

With the crosspiece out of the cardan shaft, analyze the part. Some defects leave important clues:

Crossheads with burnt tangs suffered from lack of grease or the wrong grease.

Scored or cracked tenons may indicate warpage or over-torque.

Marks on the top of the tenon are usually caused by adjustments or warping.

If you notice any of these problems or other abnormal wear (such as misaligned parts or oval holes), inform the vehicle owner and resolve the fault before assembling the new crosspiece.

Once the analysis is complete, throw away (recycle, don't forget) the old crosshead, screws, rollers, covers, rings. Nothing should be reused. The Spicer crosshead comes complete, with a grease fitting and new locking rings.

Also, use templates to check the alignment of the eyelets. A misaligned component will cause problems with the crosspieces and the cardan shaft itself.

Before delivering the vehicle to the customer, it is always a good idea to do a test drive.

If you notice vibrations in the cardan, remove the crosspiece and reassemble it by turning it 180 degrees (half a turn).

It will also be necessary to lubricate again, to replace the grease lost during disassembly.