How Much Do U Joints Cost?

Experts in universal applications at Belden spend each day collaborating with customers to specify and price universal joints and drive shafts that meet their precise requirements. This article aims to clarify how we ascertain lead times and costs associated with our universal joints and drive shafts.

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Understanding Universal Joint Pricing

The price of U-joints depends on several factors, many of which are well-known to manufacturing professionals:

Size

In general, a larger component will incur higher costs due to the increased amount of metal used and the additional machining time required to produce it. However, there are exceptions, such as our miniature joints (3/8" OD and smaller) which require specialized machining and processing and may be pricier compared to their larger counterparts.

Configuration Type

A single universal joint is less expensive than a double universal joint, assuming size, material, and hub configurations are the same. Meanwhile, a double joint will be cheaper than a driveshaft, which comprises two single joints connected by a fixed or telescoping shaft.

For fixed-length drive shafts, when a standard double yoke is unavailable and the quantities involved are low, it may be more cost-effective to link two single joints with a short shaft to create a 'butted double joint.' Producing a limited number of double yokes often proves economically inefficient.

Telescoping drive shafts, on the other hand, are more intricate than either double joints or butted double joints, offering a range of configurations, from varying profiles for the axial extension feature to options like springs to maintain specific lengths. This could merit a discussion of its own.

Hub Configuration

More complex hub configurations tend to be more expensive compared to standard bores (typically 1/2 the OD of the joint and regularly stocked), pilot bores, or solid yokes. Custom broached shapes such as hex, squares, splines, and keyways can be economical at medium to high volumes but may become costly when ordering small quantities of non-standard parts.

Special configurations like flanged hubs can be welded for certain yoke materials, although these generally incur higher costs.

Special splines, particularly involute splines often require wire or sinker erosion and may necessitate gages or mating parts supplied by clients for proper fitting. Customers should consult with Belden for the availability of standard splines that can be broached using standard tools, as EDM work can significantly inflate costs. A standard shape can typically be handled with broaches or wire EDM, making them a more economical option than custom broaches, which are usually only justifiable for production volumes reaching into the hundreds.

Shapes larger than the yoke slot can be formed or eroded, applicable similarly to ‘blind’ bores. Blind bores serve functions such as providing an end stop to the shaft, augmenting yoke strength, and sealing the joint’s center area, thus maintaining properly encapsulated lubrication. Typically, systems with blind features are more expensive than those with through features.

Male spline ends often require hobbing or shaping; in some scenarios, it proves more economical to source drawn or shaped spline shaft material that is turned and fixed via spring pin within a yoke bore.

More intricate features tend to be considerably more costly than standard designs.

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For further information on Custom Universal Joints, reach out to us for professional assistance.

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Material Costs

Typically, joints crafted from our commonly used alloy steels will be more affordable compared to those fashioned from stainless steel (303/304/316). Certain exceptions may exist for small orders that necessitate unique yokes, pins, and blocks crafted from specialty materials or techniques. In such instances, the heat treatment costs for alloy steel components can sometimes surpass that of joints made of non-heat-treated stainless steels.

Aluminum can be more economical than alloy steels when produced in higher volumes, but generally, our alloy steels tend to be the most budget-friendly choice. High-strength, exotic materials like Super Duplex, Titanium, or Inconel often represent the highest price point. Consult our sales engineering team to explore if it’s possible to achieve anti-corrosion goals without opting for an exotic material.

Outsourced Services

Belden Universal performs most machining operations in-house; however, many non-machining processes, including heat treatment, surface finishing, plating, welding, and specialized machining like EDM, are outsourced to trusted partners, with whom we maintain long-standing relationships.

Order Volume

Custom components produced in small quantities generally incur higher costs due to set-up times and minimum lot charges. Large volumes allow for the economically viable production of even the most elaborate designs.

Engineered Components

We have a diverse inventory of common needle bearings for our cross and bearing style U-joints. Non-standard bearings, composite bushings, fixed and sliding shafts, ball splines, quick-release hubs, and other power transmission components can impact overall costs.

Lead Times

Standard products, found in our Belden Universal Catalog, are typically in-stock (1-3 days) or available for assembly and shipping (1-2 weeks).

Semi-Custom products represent variations from our standard lines. These typically require machining from blanks or complete run on our production machines. If in-house machining is utilized, we can ship within 3-4 weeks. If external services are necessary, or production involves bar stock, lead times can extend from 6-8 weeks for standard parts to 12-16 weeks when extensive services are involved.

Custom products can be tailored from customer designs, or our engineering team can work alongside your engineers to devise the most suitable part for your mechanical assembly. Custom designs often require more initial time for specifications, yet subsequent orders tend to be more efficient and cost-effective. Additionally, if the design includes non-standard engineered components, this may lead to increased lead times.

This article provides a helpful overview of how much a precision universal joint or drive shaft might cost. For a quote on your specific needs, please contact us.

U-Joint Bearing Cap Dimensions

When discussing different bearing cap sizes of a U-joint, it’s crucial to recognize that the dimension differences can be minimal, making them difficult to measure accurately with a tape measure. Therefore, we recommend precise calipers for confirmed measurements. The bearing cap, sometimes referred to as the bearing case, is located at the end of each leg of the standard single cardan U-joint body. These caps are machined to house hardened needle roller bearings (along with grease) that allow smooth rotation around the joint body. Each cap is designed for a press fit into the driveshaft yoke, secured by internal or external snap rings. A grease seal helps keep contaminants out while retaining grease for extended service life.

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