At HQ Truck Parts, we’re proud to be the exclusive distributor of the U-Joint Protector — a product created to solve a problem no grease or guard alone could fix. In this video we answer the question, “Who invented the U-Joint Protector.” We interview Ryan Hunter, the inventor, who introduces the brand new U-Joint protector. There is nothing in the market quite like it.
Ryan Hunter Invented the U-Joint Protector
The Spark: A Trade Show Conversation That Changed Everything
As Ryan Hunter recalls, the U-Joint Protector was designed to keep grease from spattering the undercarriage. But, what we learned was that was only part of the story.
At the Mid-America Trucking Show in 2024, truckers and farmers stopping by his booth consistently pointed out the same thing: while it’s great to “keep the grease in,” they were more concerned about keeping debris out.
They didn’t just want a solution for lubrication retention — they needed one for contamination prevention.
Agricultural Conditions Are Brutal on U-Joints
One of the first groups to flag the issue was farmers. Ryan noted how grain trucks often drive directly through fields during harvest. As combines unload crops, trucks move alongside, often brushing against tall corn stalks — stalks that rise right to the level of a vehicle’s driveline.
