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Topic: U Joint question

in Forum: C3 Driveline Components

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U Joint question (1/5)
4/26/08 9:15pm

77 Red Corvette
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Joined: 3/23/2008
Posts: 81

My husband and I are in the process of putting back on the grease fitting U joints to the half axles. Now we put one back on but it felt tight and was a lot harder to move back and forth then the original one that came off. Is this normal? Should the new ones feel tighter or should they move easily?

Thinking that it felt to tight we pulled it back off but by doing so we ruined it and now have to order another one. No big deal but we would like to know if there are any tips on putting these things back on. We are using a press. Would just like to get the job done right.

Thanx,

Anni 77 Red Corvette

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U Joint question (2/5)
4/26/08 9:26pm

Adams' Apple

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Duncanville, TX - USA

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#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas

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Once you get the joint pressed in, and the clips installed, take a medium sized hammer, and tap firmly a few times on the ends of the yokes, right around where the clips go....right on the yoke side of the u-joint caps, NOT on the very ends. Do this on both sides...this will "seat" the joints in the yoke, and should loosen them up. They should not be real tight, but they should not "flop" either. There should be some resistance to movement. You should be able to move them with just a couple of fingers on the ends.

Pic of halfshaftAdams' Apple2008-04-26 18:37:52

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Joel Adams
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U Joint question (3/5)
4/27/08 7:35pm

VetteSpecialties
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Mounds View, MN - USA

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70 LT1 coupe, 69 350 HP coupe, 69 390HP 427 coupe, 71 LS5 convert, 85 coupe, 93 coupe

Joined: 5/24/2007
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Joel is exactly right. One consideration is that the greasable joints are not as strong as the non-grease ones. But unless you drive REAL hard, that won't be a problem.

Larry

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U Joint question (4/5)
4/28/08 6:33pm

77 Red Corvette
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Joined: 3/23/2008
Posts: 81

I just wanted to say that we were able to install one U joint into the half axle with success when we then tried to install that other two ends into the half shaft axle flange the flange bent!

My advice to anyone trying to do this is to NOT .... have someone at a good Corvette shop do it for you. We are taking ours to Paragon and I wish we would have done it to start with. For what they are charging it's not worth the hassle to try and do it yourselves.

Anni

77 Red Corvette

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U Joint question (5/5)
4/28/08 9:52pm

Adams' Apple

The flange that bolts up to the spindle will bend fairly easily, in some cases. It's usually best to have the flange bolted to the spindle flange, but that's not always possible...

Sorry to hear about the trouble, but don't feel too bad...it happens to the best of us sometimes.

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