A half shaft question

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Oct 7, 2013 | 12:21 PM

Teem66

Thread Starter

Instructor

Joined: Aug 2012

Posts: 237

Likes: 3

A half shaft question

1980 L48 Auto

Disassembled the half shafts today and found a dab of orange paint on one end of each half shaft inside the yoke. Any significance to the paint?
Thanks

Oct 7, 2013 | 01:58 PM

Easy Mike

Team Owner

Joined: Jun 2000

Posts: 38,923

Likes: 1,481

From: Southbound

Cruise-In II Veteran

Paint daubs often indicated part orientation for assembly line staff.

Oct 7, 2013 | 02:02 PM

DickieB

Advanced

Joined: Sep 2013

Posts: 64

Likes: 2

From: Clover SC

or . . . hopefully not . . . parts from the boneyard.

Oct 7, 2013 | 02:03 PM

Teem66

Thread Starter

Instructor

Joined: Aug 2012

Posts: 237

Likes: 3

Uh oh. Maybe I should have paid attention as to which side the painted ends were on. does it matter with half shafts?

Oct 7, 2013 | 02:06 PM

Teem66

Thread Starter

Instructor

Joined: Aug 2012

Posts: 237

Likes: 3

Quote:

Originally Posted by DickieB

or . . . hopefully not . . . parts from the boneyard.

I'm familiar with junk yard paint schemes and these weren't visible like most salvage yard paint IDs would be. They certainly looked original with all the grease and junk on them. The car only has 73,000 mi so I think it would be unlikely that both half shafts are replacements. But I've been wrong many times before (just ask my wife).

Oct 7, 2013 | 02:14 PM

Mike Ward

Race Director

Joined: Jul 2001

Posts: 15,892

Likes: 42

There were two different u-joint sizes in '80 depending on which transmission was installed.

The paint daub probably was there to help the assembly line workers choose the correct ones.

Oct 7, 2013 | 02:27 PM

Teem66

Thread Starter

Instructor

Joined: Aug 2012

Posts: 237

Likes: 3

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Ward

There were two different u-joint sizes in '80 depending on which transmission was installed.

The paint daub probably was there to help the assembly line workers choose the correct ones.

OK, I'm feeling better now. Thanks.