The invention relates to a displacement unit and to a universal shaft comprising said type of displacement unit. Said displacement unit comprises a tubular-type external part on whose inner surface outer paths are provided at least in sections, an inner part that can be displaced in an axial direction in the external part, on whose outer surface inner paths are arranged at least on sections, and balls that are guided in a cage, said balls being arranged for transmitting torque, respectively in outer and inner paths that are arranged in pairs. The external part and/or the inner part comprise cage guide paths for displacing the cage axially, arranged between at least a few of the outer paths or the inner paths. The number of cage guide paths is smaller than the number of pairs of paths formed by the outer paths and the inner paths.