Woodward Universal Joints

WOODWARD Needle Bearing U-Joints

Since 1989, Woodward steering universal joints have been the preferred choice of race car builders everywhere, and have won every major race and series championship in North America many times over, including the NASCAR championship. Woodward pioneered the use of caged needle rollers with a slight preload to create a joint without backlash and with noticeably lower reversing inertia than conventional automotive designs. That means enhanced sensitivity at the steering wheel, and makes even the smallest steering input more effective—whether on a superspeedway at 200MPH or sideways on a dirt bull ring.

The bearing trunnion used in these U-joints is a single piece of hardened chrome-vanadium tool steel. The grease seals are high-durometer fluorocarbon o-rings in compression against the end surfaces of the needle bearing cups. These seals will resist sustained oven- level heat and will retain the bearing grease under severe conditions, including welding. Other design details include stainless steel truss-head screws overlapping the bearing cups, and a pair of fine-thread knurled set screws located at 90o, for highly positive and reliable retention on a splined shaft or steering gear.

Please note that the intended application of these u-joints and couplers is automobile racing, where low frictional resistance and low mass are the primary goals. Their dimensions are Woodward standards, shown in the drawing on the following page. Except for the spline sizes, which fit steering racks and gearboxes adapted from OEM automobiles, they do not conform to any automotive manufacturer’s dimensions and are not OEM replacement parts.