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I'm installing the new U-joints on the drive shaft and half shafts.
1) When installing the first u-joint I bent one of the plastic grease seal on one of the caps (see pic).
The rest of the installation turned out fine. Should I still use this U-joint or buy and reinstall a new one?
2) Is there an 'out' and an 'in' side on the half shafts? Or doesn't it matter which side goes on the differential and wheel side?
I don't see any markings. The model is 'Spicer A3R42-54' for the halfshafts.
I feel your pain. I did the same thing on my first U-Joint install.
I would think that as long as the needle bearings are in place as they should and no grease is leaking you should be OK. Can you still rotate the U-Joint with out issues?
Looks like teflon. If it is, let it sit a couple days see if it straightens out from its own 'memory'. Otherwise, hit it with a hair dryer, warm up the seal and just press the seal with your fingers. Maybe it'll un-deform. I wouldn't put too much heat on it (i.e. heat gun) ..could damage it worse. Most of the sealing portion is probably inside the area you see. Most Corvettes are garage and trailer queens. How much rain are you going to run it in? Not much. It'll probably last 20 years. If it bugs ya, yeah, replace it.
I'm installing the new U-joints on the drive shaft and half shafts.
2) Is there an 'out' and an 'in' side on the half shafts? Or doesn't it matter which side goes on the differential and wheel side?
I don't see any markings. The model is 'Spicer A3R42-54' for the halfshafts.
I asked the same question a while back and Gary Ramadei (GTR1999 on this forum), who's THE expert on differentials and other stuff corvette, said it doesn't matter which way the half shafts are orientated.
I asked the same question a while back and Gary Ramadei (GTR1999 on this forum), who's THE expert on differentials and other stuff corvette, said it doesn't matter which way the half shafts are orientated.
Paul
I installed the half shafts, and bought a new U-joint.
The deformed teflon seal just did't change with the heat of a hair drier. I bought one new U-joint.
2) Is there an 'out' and an 'in' side on the half shafts? Or doesn't it matter which side goes on the differential and wheel side?
I don't see any markings. The model is 'Spicer A3R42-54' for the halfshafts.
Orient the u-joint so the zerk fitting is under compression. The joint is stronger that way.
U-joint installation
