CTM's on the street: possible ??

TigTorch · Nov 10, 2008

What is the life span of a CTM/Longfield brass sleeved U-joint when used on road? I've been told its about 300 miles.

My junk lives half its time on and the other half off road. I was hoping someone has tried this on the street and managed to get longer life with obsessive greasing.

Waste of time?

Cascade_Crawler · Nov 10, 2008

its a waste of time and money. U joints without needle bearings dont belong on the street

Brian H · Nov 10, 2008

Cascade_Crawler said:
its a waste of time and money. U joints without needle bearings dont belong on the street

X2:awesomework:

zukkev · Nov 10, 2008

Stick with Spicers....When your rig sees almost soley trail use, then pony up the $....

zuk88 · Nov 10, 2008

If you got lock out hubs on the front axle you could run them.

TreeClimber · Nov 10, 2008

TigTorch said:
What is the life span of a CTM/Longfield brass sleeved U-joint when used on road? I've been told its about 300 miles.

My junk lives half its time on and the other half off road. I was hoping someone has tried this on the street and managed to get longer life with obsessive greasing.

Waste of time?

I run CTMs. In a YJ, with a D44 and Warn Alloys. They're nearly 8 years old. I've switched to Warn hubs, so they don't have thousands of miles of road use on them, but they do have quite a few miles on them and they bushings haven't worn out yet. I do grease them either before or after any substantial trip (which is kinda a pain in the ass). I have broken a axle shaft and taken out two of the CTM caps in the process, but the joints have never failed. The broken shafts did NOT damage the cross of the CTM.

I'd run Spicer joints if it's a TJ, YJ, XJ etc without hubs. However I'd spend a couple of extra bucks and upgrade to the Warn full floating kits and Warn hubs and then definately run the CTM or Longfield joints. (and I'd do Longfields before CTMs, however Bobby didn't build D44 joints back then)

Tony

NotMatt · Nov 11, 2008

No big deal if you've got lockouts, otherwise no, I wouldn't do it.

CHOP SHOP · Nov 11, 2008

dont turn. youll be fine. use a cutting brake instead.:awesomework: :haha:

stjjames · Nov 13, 2008

I have thousands of miles on mine, I grease them every couple of weeks. I recently completely tore them down when swapping shafts to a hp housing & they appeared fine, after years of on - off road life. Non lockouts, on a D30, 35ish tires the whole time.

zukkev · Nov 13, 2008

stjjames said:
I have thousands of miles on mine, I grease them every couple of weeks. I recently completely tore them down when swapping shafts to a hp housing & they appeared fine, after years of on - off road life. Non lockouts, on a D30, 35ish tires the whole time.

Who on here's that anal about makin sure their joints are greased every two weeks??Hmmm..good ?

Wildman1 · Nov 16, 2008

Funny this subject gets brought up over on Jeeps Unlimited a lot and everytime it does the simple answer is................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................Call the Vendor and ask!!

From what has been said on JU you can run CTM's on a TJ, YJ, XJ without hubs.

Call the vendor. :cheer:

There was a thread early last year on the use of CTMs for daily drivers, for which they were not recommended by the manufacturer IIRC. They would wear out prematurely. The manufacturer indicated that they were for Off road use only!

However, since you have the dial out hubs this may not be a problem for you.

That right there is the problem with the internet. I have shot that myth down every time one of Jack's competitors starts it again and just like this time, folks will only remember what you posted and not what I post.

Jack has no such exclusion or recommendation. It's easy to verify, call him at 949-487-0770.

Post from JU

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=426777&page=2

From Pirate with Jack himself answering.

darius · Nov 17, 2008

I've heard from a little birdie there will be a u joint that is perfect for your application coming soon.

Digger 5 · Nov 19, 2008

I don't have locking hubs (can't find a 40 sp lock out yet) and have about 10K (and 4 years with LOTS of wheelin ) on the CTMs. I am a bit crazy about greasing them and hit them with the grease gun after every trip.