Universal Joint Straps, Girdles & Components

What Are U-Joint Straps and Girdles?

U-joint straps and girdles are the hardware that clamps a universal joint into a yoke so your driveshaft can transfer power without the bearing caps walking loose under load. Straps and U-bolt kits retain the caps on a standard joint, while a girdle adds a rigid brace that spreads clamping force across the joint for high-torque builds. When the connection lets go, the driveshaft can drop or the joint can fail, so the right retaining hardware is worth getting correct.

You'll want this hardware any time you swap a driveshaft, change yokes, or add power that stresses the stock connection. It's also the first thing to check if you hear a clunk on acceleration or spot movement at the joint. Shop the joints themselves under U-Joints, and find the Yokes they bolt into when you're planning a full driveline refresh.

Types of U-Joint Straps and Girdles

JEGS carries four main types of retaining hardware, each matched to how much clamping strength your build needs:

• Universal joint strap kits: paired straps and bolts that hold the bearing caps on a standard joint.
• U-joint girdles: a one-piece brace that clamps over the joint for extra rigidity on high-torque applications.
• U-bolt kits: U-shaped bolts and nuts that secure the caps into the yoke ears.
• U-bolt eliminators: billet strap kits that replace factory U-bolts with a stronger, reusable clamp.

Strap kits and U-bolt kits handle most street and mild performance builds, while girdles and U-bolt eliminators give you the extra clamp load high-horsepower and drag setups demand. If you're rebuilding the whole assembly, pair these parts with matching Driveshafts & Components so everything torques down to spec.

How to Choose the Right U-Joint Series

Match the strap or girdle to the u-joint series your driveshaft and yoke already use, because clamp width and bolt spacing change from one series to the next. Common performance sizes include 1350 series, 1480 and 1550, and 1610 series joints, plus GM 12-bolt and pinion yoke fitments.

Measure your existing caps or check the yoke casting before you order, since a 1350 series girdle won't clamp a smaller joint correctly. A larger series generally means bigger caps and higher torque capacity, so step up a size when your power level climbs rather than reusing a marginal joint. If you're adding serious power, back up the connection with a driveshaft safety loop from our Driveshaft Safety Loops category.

For a deeper look at how axle design affects driveline stress, read our full-floating axle guide, and keep the rest of the driveline healthy with our differential fluid service guide. Browse every related part from the Driveshafts & Yokes department.

Top Brands for U-Joint Straps and Girdles

Four driveline brands supply most of the straps, girdles, and U-bolt kits stocked at JEGS, each aimed at a different power level and use.

• Dana Spicer: OE-style Spicer strap kits and U-bolt kits covering common driveline series from 1310 up to 1610.
• Strange Engineering: heavy-duty U-bolt kits for 1350-series yokes and hardware built for high-horsepower and drag applications.
• Moroso: U-joint girdles with straps for GM 12-bolt applications and other performance driveline setups.
• Allstar Performance: strap kits for GM pinion yokes plus aluminum race-yoke U-joint girdles for circle-track and shop builds.

Choosing between them comes down to power level and use. Spicer and Moroso hardware suits most street and mild performance rebuilds, while Allstar kits keep circle-track and shop budgets in check. Strange parts handle the highest clamp loads on drag and high-horsepower driveshafts.

Not sure how your rear gear choice affects driveline load? Compare setups in our limited-slip vs posi guide before you finalize parts.