Lagondaforum

Subject: Driveshaft grease

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Which grease should I use for the two driveshafts?

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Subject: Re: Driveshaft grease

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You might want to consult others but my recollection is high graphite content for extreme pressure applications; it's almost black in colour

Subject: Re: Driveshaft grease

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Graphite grease is recommended for splined applications, I am wondering about Moly Grease too...

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Subject: Re: Driveshaft grease

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In the beginning, AML chose an "ordinary" grease but after repeated half-shaft failures under warranty they got in Hardy-Spicer for a design review, who immediatley spotted that the designed geometry of the shafts was not perpendicular to the plane of wheel rotation, which causes uneven peak loading on the splines which the "ordinary" grease couldn't cope with. Hence the change to graphite grease. Your call re Moly grease though

Subject: Re: Driveshaft grease

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I think Hardy Spicer knew their stuff, so graphite grease it is. I had to replace one of the Hardy Spicer UJ's, both outer ones have now been replaced. The splines don't appear to have any play (though both shafts have been replaced) - the UJ's may have taken the peak loading and saved the splines?

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Subject: Re: Driveshaft grease

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It also occurs to me that when re-assembling each half-shaft it is important to align the splines so that the UJ yokes at each end are parallel to each other (and not "out" by one or more splines)

Subject: Re: Driveshaft grease

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If your input and output shafts are more or less parallel to each other, but move laterally with respect to each other, the best setup is to have the yokes on either end of the shaft parallel to each other, not at right angles. U-joints are not perfect when running at an angle, and although the diff may be running at a steady speed, the driveshaft will vary in speed. By aligning the yokes on the shaft in parallel this effect cancels out and the wheel should run at a steady speed.
Alec

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Subject: Re: Driveshaft grease

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Alec is right, have edited my previous

Subject: Re: Driveshaft grease

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Re- spline & joint lubrication.
A 140 grade oil is recomended for joints and splines,sliding joints
( not splined ) on agricultural shafts a graphite-based grease
is recommended. Data from Hardy Spicer Ltd published in
servicing guide to british motor vehicles volume 3. When a grease
gun is mentioned on a service sheet, it is only a macanical means
of delivering the oil.
Ray Sherratt.

Subject: Re: Driveshaft grease

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Oil is not suitable for LR drive shaft splines for reasons I set out earlier