Pregreased Bearing Disadvantages – The disadvantages are also two fold with the improved performance also means increased maintenance and increased replacement of wear parts, being the bearings. With the bearings now included inside the coupling the increased speed increases the friction so these pregreased bearings still have the same issue, expanding with the heat and seizing inside the race, thrust washer will tend to absorb more heat and take more of the increased torque . This means that while the bearing is pre greased it will still tend to dry out with use and will need to be replaced eventually, this increases the overall cost of the coupling, even with the more expensive bearings as it still increases the maintenance costs and lowers the ROI of the couplings.

Another disadvantage with the inclusion of the pregreased bearings is, while they improve the flexibility of the coupling they still wear out as the misalignment angle during use being used outside a 1-8°, so the bigger the angle of misalignment they are used at, especially when you add increased torque and increased speed. Even with a thrust washer to absorb some of that torque and misalignment, the increased rate of wear the bearings encounter since the ball bearings are being forced against the side of the bearing cage. This force wears the bearing cage so the more force applied (ie bigger misalignment angle and increased torque) means the bearings wear the race as the balls are pushed out into the sides of the bearings making the race wider and wider allowing the balls to get loose until they can get forced out of the bearings cage.

Universal joints are made up of three pieces, a pair of input and output shaft connectors or “yokes” and a center universal joint sometimes also called a cross joint.

These components have their own failure points. The cross has to be constantly lubricated or the bearings at each of the 4 connection points to the yokes, can seize and fail. These same bearings cannot be run at large angles of misalignment or the bearings will wear the race out and again this leads to bearing failure. Bearing because they need to keep the internal ball bearing moving, any outside contaminants like water dust etc will cause the balls to seize and this leads to bearing failure and therefore replacement.

The yokes while large on their exterior, where they attached to the cross are alot smaller and this is an area where failure due to cracking, either by external damage or using a seized universal joint. This failure means the yoke needs to be replaced. All of this costs money, both for product replacement but also the cost of labor and machinery down time.

A standard universal joint cannot run over 8° without causing significant vibration, effecting either the handling and ride of the car to actual damage to the vehicle. All driveshafts have to be balanced to take into account this movement of 8°, otherwise damage to gearbox, the axle and its bearings will occur.

The number of moving parts means anything happens to one component will mean a failure of the whole part

Constantly being re lubricated and covered in a protective parts is required otherwise water, dirt and debris will mean premature wear and failure

Twin Spring offers one solution to both products, a set of counter wound springs means zero moving parts and being lubricated and encased in vulcanised neoprene means no water, dust or debris can enter the joint to cause failure

Being the first coupling that can take full thrust means improved efficiency, as no losses are recorded.

Is not subject to vibration as the surfaces are constantly in contact.

It can be made in any size/torque configuration, so sized up or down to suit specifications.

Replace U joints in steering applications, smaller maintenance free and works in most steering boxes. Drivetrain and axles are also another area to replace u joints with Twin Spring Couplings. A 1 piece design replaces the 3 of a universal joint, meaning less chance of failure.