Centering bracket
Fixture for cross bearing joint centering, assembly and staking
Diameter for steering shafts, mm
Diameter for drive shafts, mm
Precision centering for balance accuracy
The cross journal jig is a fixture used with a press for quality assembly of “unassembled” cross shafts of passenger car and truck driveshafts after repairs. It was originally designed for repair shops specializing in the repair of universal joint shafts, but since then it is widely used also in the production of mass-produced universal joint shafts.
The fixture consists of a rigid housing with a guide bush and a bracket to compensate for the load on the cardan shaft yoke. A set of cores and stands (or jacks) is supplied with the bracket. The stands are installed in a hole in the bottom of the housing, which is coaxial with the guide sleeve at the top. This allows the cores to slide over the guide sleeve and be centered relative to the crosshead cup during assembly, ensuring that the cores are coreed without misalignment.
The stands serve two functions: to center the crosshead relative to the fixture and to limit the movement of the crosshead during assembly by determining its exact position in the driveshaft yoke.
Fitting a tool solves several problems:
- Ensures proper orientation of the core during assembly, reducing the risk of its breakage and creating conditions for a reliable non-disassembled connection;
- Compensates the load of the press on the fork of the driveshaft that allows to avoid its deformation and appearance of microcracks in it;
- Provides the correct orientation of the cross for assembly without distortion and determines its position relative to the axis of the shaft. Incorrect orientation can lead to shaft imbalance and rapid wear of the joint and holes in the driveshaft yoke;
- Can be used to disassemble the crosses to eliminate the possibility of damaging the surfaces of the driveshaft yoke or geometric deformation.
The device allows beginners to work without errors, and experienced professionals to increase the productivity of the cardan repair site.
- Rigid centering housing provides stable positioning and guidance of the u-joint during assembly.
- Load-compensating bracket reduces press load on the driveshaft yoke, preventing deformation and microcracks.
- Guide sleeve for accurate alignment ensures correct positioning of the bearing cups relative to the shaft axis.
- Dual-function stands center the u-joint and restrict its movement, maintaining precise placement in the yoke.
- Assembly and disassembly support allows safe installation and removal of u-joints without damaging the yoke.
- Interchangeable punch set supplied with punches for u-joints ranging from Ø15–31 mm.
- Operator-friendly design minimizes errors for beginners and increases productivity in professional repair shops.
Precision Assembly System
- Factory-quality workshop fixture – Professional-grade centering system provides factory-level u-joint assembly precision in repair shop environments. Rigid housing with guide bushing ensures consistent alignment and reliable non-disassembled connections.
- Coaxial alignment design – Guide sleeve and housing hole maintain precise coaxial relationship for perfect core centering relative to crosshead cup. The alignment system eliminates misalignment preventing premature joint failure.
- Load compensation bracket – Integrated system compensates for press loads on driveshaft fork preventing deformation and microcracks during assembly. Protection design preserves component integrity while maintaining assembly precision.
Complete Tooling Integration
- Comprehensive core and stand set – Complete tooling package includes precision cores and positioning stands providing immediate operational capability. Stands center crosshead and limit movement determining exact position in yoke.
- Professional punch sets – Eight-piece set (20-31mm) for driveshafts and four-piece set (15-19mm) for steering shafts with centering housing. Complete tooling covers standard automotive and commercial applications.
Quality and Productivity Features
- Assembly without distortion – Design prevents geometric distortion and ensures proper cross orientation relative to shaft axis preventing imbalance and rapid wear. Quality assurance maintains dimensional relationships critical for balanced operation.
- Dual assembly/disassembly capability – Fixture handles both operations preventing component damage and protecting driveshaft yoke surfaces during either process. Dual capability maximizes equipment utility.
- Beginner-friendly operation – Precise guidance enables error-free operation by inexperienced operators while experienced technicians achieve enhanced productivity through streamlined process. User-friendly design reduces training requirements.
Technological tooling for replacing stacked u-joints
- Centring housing for the punches.
- Set of 8 bits for punching crosses with diameters from 20 to 31 mm for drive shafts.
- Set of 4 bits for punching crosses with diameters from 15 to 19 mm for steering shafts.
- Set of 6 positioning support pins
- Load-compensating hook – 2 pcs