U-Joints for 2003 Alpha One Gen 2

[stormulus]

2003 Alpha One Gen 2, serial number 0M486176

I'm wondering if one of you with much more knowledge and experience than I have can help me out. I have always used OEM parts for repairs and maintenance but I may have reached the limit. Looking up the part number for the u-joints at several parts suppliers, I find the following two part numbers :
805536A2 - this appears to be a greaseable u-joint. Supplier A shows this as being used on 1998 drives and up (which mine is). Supplier B lists this as used on drive serial numbers 0M400411 (which mine is not). So it seems this might work but might not. OEM cost is about $100 each.
or
865496A02 - this appears to be a permalube u-joint. Both suppliers list this as for serial numbers 0M400412 and up. It seems this is likely to be a sure fit. Cheapest I can find the OEM is $230 each.

I'm not going to claim to know anything about the engineering and manufacturing of these u-joints, but c'mon.....$230 each seems excessive. So I'm looking at alternatives.

So my questions are:
Does anyone know if the 805536A2 part will actually work on my drive?
Can anyone recommend quality alternatives?

I looked in the u-joint sticky in the adults only section, but it seems the link goes to an unrelated thread.

 

[achris]

I looked in the u-joint sticky in the adults only section, but it seems the link goes to an unrelated thread.

Fixed...

 

[stormulus]

Thank you Chris for the quick response. Unfortunately none of the links within the u-joint thread work. And although the 4th post in that thread lists several u-joints by make and number, I don't know what they are intended to be cross referenced to.

I appreciate your help though.

 

[Scott06]

I think a moog 344 or equivalent will fit the external clips they are $26 at summit racing

 

[stormulus]

I guess my bottom line question is, has anyone with an Alpha One Gen 2 drive with a serial number of 0M400411 and above successfully used and after market u-joint, and know what it was?

 

[stormulus]

I think a moog 344 or equivalent will fit the external clips they are $26 at summit racing

Thanks Scott. I'll check that out.

 

[poconojoe]

I'm going to follow since my drive is the same year.

 

[Rick Stephens]

I used the Moog joints from local NAPA. No way I am paying ripoff penalties for 'marine' sold items made in the same factories as automotive.

 

[stormulus]

I used the Moog joints from local NAPA. No way I am paying ripoff penalties for 'marine' sold items made in the same factories as automotive.

Do you know if they were the Moog 344 that Scott mentioned?

Thanks!

 

[Rick Stephens]

I thought they were 315s, but that is from memory. I always get grease-able. I pull my drive every winter and leave on a stand and grease before reinstalling.

 

[Kubaat3lover]

I have original GKN Ujoints OEM manufacturer for Mercruiser, whats best they are greaseable. let me know if youre intrested
Its with External clips

 

[stormulus]

Thanks Rick and Kubaat3lover for your responses.

My boat seemed louder than usual this past Saturday. When we got back to the slip and everyone got out, I started it back up, opened the engine cover and I tried listening closely to see what noises I could here. There seemed to be a somewhat random clackety clack type of sound that was fairly faint but still noticeable to me. I wear hearing aids and they had fresh batteries at the time. They are designed to amplify specific frequencies more than others but sometimes its hard to tell where specific sounds are coming from. However it seemed like it was probably coming from the drive and not the engine.

I'm not exactly sure what the issue is right now however I'm trying to line up the information for whatever parts I might need so I can get them quickly once I pull my boat out, since it is a rental slip. If I need to do a gimbal bearing and bellows, I'll just get the mercruiser kit for that and can get it quickly. The info on the u-joints is kind of confusing, and the cost was a surprise. So right now I'm trying to sort that out. Looks like I'll probably just have to pull the boat, remove the drive and determine what the noise is and go from there.

 

[Kubaat3lover]

Ujoints for GKN styles : https://www.ebay.com/itm/304096104294

 

[stormulus]

thanks!

 

[Scott06]

i out your drive serial in a different site they show the two different types of ujoints. Not sure unless you have it off how to tell the difference but looks like they have one style with internal retaining clips ( moog 315 equivalent) and one with external (Moog 344). My 2003 vintage drive has the external but not sure when they switched over.

 

[stormulus]

i out your drive serial in a different site they show the two different types of ujoints. Not sure unless you have it off how to tell the difference but looks like they have one style with internal retaining clips ( moog 315 equivalent) and one with external (Moog 344). My 2003 vintage drive has the external but not sure when they switched over.

Thanks Scott.

I've spent a LOT of time over the last couple of evenings doing online "research" on this for Aplha One Gen 2 drives, looking at cross references provided by various part suppliers and also usage of Moog parts by individuals as noted in user comments here and at amazon. I have taken a lot of notes, which I'll put together in some sort of compiled format. For my drive, also being a 2003, I think you're correct in that the Moog 344 is the place to start.

 

[Scott06]

Thanks Scott.

I've spent a LOT of time over the last couple of evenings doing online "research" on this for Aplha One Gen 2 drives, looking at cross references provided by various part suppliers and also usage of Moog parts by individuals as noted in user comments here and at amazon. I have taken a lot of notes, which I'll put together in some sort of compiled format. For my drive, also being a 2003, I think you're correct in that the Moog 344 is the place to start.

Your research aligns with what I found also. Let us know how you make out- I'll be doing my bellows this fall/winter so I'll be getting ujoints to have on hand for the job.

 

[Chris1956]

When I replaced my U joints (Alpha 1 Gen 1), I took them to my local auto parts store. They matched them up, real easily.

The replacements were the same external fit and function, but the bearings and races were internally different, however, they were less than $10 each and the MerCruiser ones were $55 each, in those days. They lasted until I sold the boat.

 

[Kubaat3lover]

Automotive is quite different , very important is the diameter of the ujoint, message me anyone who wants this GKN oem

 

[tpenfield]

You do want the more heavy duty u-joint, but no need to pay the Merc price. Shop it around for generic equivalents. Keep in mind that Mercruiser buys most of their stuff (parts) from transportation industry suppliers, packages them and slaps the big $$$ tag on them.

I've bought many GM and other OEM sourced parts for my Merc's over the years. I think the last set of u-joints cost me about $40.