Universal Joints
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2010 Mercury Mariner and 2010 Ford Escape. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
The center and rear joints consist of:
- a lubed-for-life design that requires no periodic lubrication.
- equipped with nylon thrust washers, located at the base of each bearing cup, which control end play, position the needle bearings and improve grease movement.
- staked in place U-joints are not serviced individually. If worn or damaged, install a new driveshaft assembly.
- snap ring type U-joints can be replaced if worn or damaged.
The U-joints allow the speeding up and slowing down of the driveshaft as the angularity of the driveshaft changes.