Half Shaft French Locks Question
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Half Shaft French Locks Question
Does anyone have a picture of properly installed french locks? I recently replaced the half shafts on my 73 and am having clearance issues with the french locks. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,755
Likes: 2,589
scroll down and you will see pictures before and after
http://www.corvetteforum.net/c3/juliet/rearsusp.htm
http://www.corvetteforum.net/c3/juliet/rearsusp.htm
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Very nice job on the restoration and its documentation. The only things I will add are: 1) the available [aftermarket] French locks are not hardened properly, so they are difficult to use and I'm not sure they are all that good at 'guaranteeing' the bolts don't come loose; and 2) the tabs on the French locks are supposed to be pried up and against the flat sides on those bolts' hex heads. They need to be driven flat against those hex-head flats....not against the edge between two flats.
With properly hardened French locks, only one tab [for each bolt head] needs to be pried up to prevent the bolt from backing out. But, with these un-hardened POS parts, you need to use them ALL to be reasonably safe.
With properly hardened French locks, only one tab [for each bolt head] needs to be pried up to prevent the bolt from backing out. But, with these un-hardened POS parts, you need to use them ALL to be reasonably safe.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,150
Likes: 285
From: cary Il
Very nice job on the restoration and its documentation. The only things I will add are: 1) the available [aftermarket] French locks are not hardened properly, so they are difficult to use and I'm not sure they are all that good at 'guaranteeing' the bolts don't come loose; and 2) the tabs on the French locks are supposed to be pried up and against the flat sides on those bolts' hex heads. They need to be driven flat against those hex-head flats....not against the edge between two flats.
With properly hardened French locks, only one tab [for each bolt head] needs to be pried up to prevent the bolt from backing out. But, with these un-hardened POS parts, you need to use them ALL to be reasonably safe.
With properly hardened French locks, only one tab [for each bolt head] needs to be pried up to prevent the bolt from backing out. But, with these un-hardened POS parts, you need to use them ALL to be reasonably safe.
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Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
When Juliet was doing that restoration 10 years ago she was a VERY active member of the Forum. I was often swept up in her enthusiasm! She went on to become an NCRS judge. But I have not seen any posts from her for many years. I do not know what happened to her.
