Mario,
Your yokes look a whole lot better than mine. When I was doing research on how to do this differential stuff I found out that later C3's, including '78 had bad yokes. Soft metal wore quickly. My oil was like a metallic paste.
Joel, That's pretty cool the way you can put notes on a picture. Someday i learn how to do that stuff. Use the pic anytime you like.  

Just a quick note to say thanks for all the great information here... One day I too will be tackling rebuilding the back mechanicals and love to read all I can. 

Yes this forum is a wealth of info, thanks to all ...I find myself accessing regularly....now an update.  Trailing arms off to be rebuilt, need new cores since the old ones were pretty beat up by previous owners, but  "while I'm at it", anyone have experience with rebuilding calipeers?  Mine look pretty good but thinking of switching to O rings, any thoughts?  Sorry if this off topic.  Also should I flush the differential before refilling?  What would one use?

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Mario

I just did all 4 on the white vette last fall. O-ring kits from bairs and new rebuild kit for master cylinder. Easy job just time consumming. I have lots of pictures need to turn them into a tech article.....ebo

|UPDATED|4/29/2013 9:13:13 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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LIFETIME MEMBER 151

...And put it in the next installment of "Shark Bytes", right?


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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Thanks Ebo, shoot I've gone this far may as well rebuild the calipers!  My family keeps telling me it would have been cheaper to buy a new car! DId the kits come with instructions? 

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Mario

Hey one more question - need to replace the u-joints on the driveshaft,  will it need to be re-balanced after that? 

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Mario

You can use a non-chlorinated brake cleaner to clean the interior of the diff....no problems for the clutch packs. Just spray it all around, and tilt the diff so all the poop runs out, let it air dry, and yer good to go. 

If just replacing the u-joints, there is no need to worry about the driveshaft balance.... as long as you don't bend the shaft in the process.

|UPDATED|5/2/2013 7:29:29 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

My family keeps telling me it would have been cheaper to buy a new car!

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1973 BB 4-Speed Coupe Project Car

Update:  Got the new diff cover, cross member with bushings and adjustable strut rods, putting it all back together again but... on the yoke side seals I was able to pull the snap rings and remove the yokes, however everyone simple states "remove the yoke replace the seal and re-install the yoke".  I may be dense but I'd like to know more about replacing the seal - do I grease the inside diameter where the yoke passes through?  Do I put any sealer on the outside diameter (another poster mentions Ultra BlackRTV)  Do I put anything (grease) on the splines before inserting?  Maybe I'm over thinking this but only want to do it once.  Also I'm reading about "foreign low quality seals".  I  bought side seals from Willcox they have an orange color OD.  How do I know if they are good US made?  Anyone have any experience with them? Again only want to do it once if I have to spend a few more bucks to get USA seals from Napa I'll do that. Thanks all!

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Mario

1: Yes, if it does not have any in it already. Just use wheel bearing grease, or Vaseline.
2: NO!! If you install the seal squarely, you don't need any sealer. The outer metal part of the seal should have a painted surface....that paint IS the sealer.
3: Not needed, but it won't hurt anything if you do.

In my experience with transmission seals, the orange colored rubber does not seem to hold up as well/long as the black rubber(depending on the application). Then again, you can add any color dye you want to any rubber compound, so....take that with a grain of salt.



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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"