U-joints
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 276
Likes: 0
U-joints
..never replaced them before.
With the new joint installed, and both clips seated, is it ok if the u-joint doesn't move back and forth (rotate) as easy as when it wasn't installed.
An obvious question for someone that's been there before...I just don't want to muck this up.
Let me know if you need a better description...
With the new joint installed, and both clips seated, is it ok if the u-joint doesn't move back and forth (rotate) as easy as when it wasn't installed.
An obvious question for someone that's been there before...I just don't want to muck this up.
Let me know if you need a better description...
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,118
Likes: 3,914
From: Connecticut, USA
Don,
With the new joints in place they should not bind at all.They might be snug, but should freely move. Which joint is binding the flange or yoke end? From what you said it sounds like the flanges are bent. The way I tell is to bolt it to a plate and see what it does. It the joint is tight with the bolts loose then the joint loosens up when they are tight the flange is flexing. Sometimes you can get by with them distorted in place but I wouldn't recommend that. I tried it just once and a joint cap popped out after a few hundred miles- not pretty. Now, if I'm doing 1/2 shafts and the joints are tight I install a new flange, I tried "rebuilt" flanges and had mixed results so I stay with new.
Gary
With the new joints in place they should not bind at all.They might be snug, but should freely move. Which joint is binding the flange or yoke end? From what you said it sounds like the flanges are bent. The way I tell is to bolt it to a plate and see what it does. It the joint is tight with the bolts loose then the joint loosens up when they are tight the flange is flexing. Sometimes you can get by with them distorted in place but I wouldn't recommend that. I tried it just once and a joint cap popped out after a few hundred miles- not pretty. Now, if I'm doing 1/2 shafts and the joints are tight I install a new flange, I tried "rebuilt" flanges and had mixed results so I stay with new.
Gary
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 276
Likes: 0
The joints are on the flanges.
They only bind when I put the last clip in. I'm not sure if we both are agreed on what binding means. The caps went in really easy, just light tapping.
When I put the joint in, and put one clip on, the u-joint turned freely, just as easy as when it wasn't on the flange. Once I put that second clip on, it is much harder to turn the u-joint.
I am wondering if this is normal?
I made sure to tap the u-joint into the first clip, to give me room to put the second clip on. But the cap won't go all the way down past the groove for the clip, and therefore, I can't get the second clip to seat properly (this is on the other flange BTW).
I bolted both flanges together...see here...
http://www.corvettecrew.com/forums/s...ead.php?t=5947
They only bind when I put the last clip in. I'm not sure if we both are agreed on what binding means. The caps went in really easy, just light tapping.
When I put the joint in, and put one clip on, the u-joint turned freely, just as easy as when it wasn't on the flange. Once I put that second clip on, it is much harder to turn the u-joint.
I am wondering if this is normal?
I made sure to tap the u-joint into the first clip, to give me room to put the second clip on. But the cap won't go all the way down past the groove for the clip, and therefore, I can't get the second clip to seat properly (this is on the other flange BTW).
I bolted both flanges together...see here...
http://www.corvettecrew.com/forums/s...ead.php?t=5947
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,783
Likes: 2
From: Engineers do it better.
Make sure the "ears" are not bent. How did you remove the old ones? Hammer? or press them out?
Try tapping on the ears ( not the U joints) after installing the U joint. It should loosen them up a bit. I just did the job last week.
Good luck
Try tapping on the ears ( not the U joints) after installing the U joint. It should loosen them up a bit. I just did the job last week.
Good luck
