Halfshafts/ U - joints - problem ?
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From: Alpharetta GA
Halfshafts/ U - joints - problem ?
Hi all,
question - 1981 Corvette
I jacked up the rear of the car yesterday and noticed that I could move my wheels
clockwise / counter clockwise ( left /right ) what seemed like an inch or so. I did this while looking underneath and saw that my half shafts were also rotating.
Is this okay...?
The car has felt a little squirelly at times and I'm wondering if this is related.
I thought i heard somewhere that you shouldnt be able to move the halfshafts.
Thanks
Kevin
question - 1981 Corvette
I jacked up the rear of the car yesterday and noticed that I could move my wheels
clockwise / counter clockwise ( left /right ) what seemed like an inch or so. I did this while looking underneath and saw that my half shafts were also rotating.
Is this okay...?
The car has felt a little squirelly at times and I'm wondering if this is related.
I thought i heard somewhere that you shouldnt be able to move the halfshafts.
Thanks
Kevin
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,711
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From: San Antonio TX
Re: Halfshafts/ U - joints - problem ? (ksems)
Yes, that is just the backlash between the ring and pinion, the spider gear to side gear mesh. It's not significant as a measurement with these components, but when you put it into actual wheel travel distance, it comes out to what seems a startling amount. I would be concerned if you said that you could rotate the tire and the halfshafts didn't move. That would be a bad thing.
To give you an example of this to the extreme, in my Fairlane with a 3.89 gear and Detroit Locker, under some circumstances, a quarter-rotation of the differential case can occur before the tire actually turns. That comes out to a loud thunk!
[Modified by gerry72, 2:04 PM 8/24/2001]
To give you an example of this to the extreme, in my Fairlane with a 3.89 gear and Detroit Locker, under some circumstances, a quarter-rotation of the differential case can occur before the tire actually turns. That comes out to a loud thunk!
[Modified by gerry72, 2:04 PM 8/24/2001]
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From: Massachusetts , USA,
Re: Halfshafts/ U - joints - problem ? (ksems)
ZIP has complete half shafts with new joints & flange , made in USA all assembled for $113 .........cheap . put them on my 1966 work nice & great deal.
Burning Brakes
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From: waller texas
Cruise-In I Veteran
Re: Halfshafts/ U - joints - problem ? (ksems)
Hey whats up ksem
It is normal to have some movement and yes the half shafts better turn.As far as the squirly feeling that usually comes from bushings worn at the trailing arms or sway bar ends.A weak shock can make for poor handling also.What you might do while you have it jacked up ,is put it in nentral and with the wheels and brake drums off spin the hub by hand.Seeif you feel any roughness or noise while turning the hub.This is good way to check the bearings condition.I could feel roughness in mine and sure enough 1 bearing and race were pitted out pretty bad.I replaced the bearings and bushings myself.The vette handles like it should now.I drilled and installed grease zerks in my hubs and it worked great.I see now some company selling hubs that way now.Many said I was wrong for putting in zerks and my bearings would fail form the heat.Well almost 2000 mile trip at 70 plus and had no problems.that's been almost 3 yrs ago and still no problems.
wave on \ //// :chevy
It is normal to have some movement and yes the half shafts better turn.As far as the squirly feeling that usually comes from bushings worn at the trailing arms or sway bar ends.A weak shock can make for poor handling also.What you might do while you have it jacked up ,is put it in nentral and with the wheels and brake drums off spin the hub by hand.Seeif you feel any roughness or noise while turning the hub.This is good way to check the bearings condition.I could feel roughness in mine and sure enough 1 bearing and race were pitted out pretty bad.I replaced the bearings and bushings myself.The vette handles like it should now.I drilled and installed grease zerks in my hubs and it worked great.I see now some company selling hubs that way now.Many said I was wrong for putting in zerks and my bearings would fail form the heat.Well almost 2000 mile trip at 70 plus and had no problems.that's been almost 3 yrs ago and still no problems.
wave on \ //// :chevy
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From: Alpharetta GA
Re: Halfshafts/ U - joints - problem ? (ksems)
Hi all,
Thanks for the replies.
So It sounds like the movement is normal
Is there a way to check the trailing arm bushings? ( other than take the
whole thing apart )
How hard is it to drill out the rear hub rivets to get my rotors off and replace
my bearings ( if they are bad )... I did the front bearings myself - no problem.
You know, if I end up replacing the trailing arm bushings, I might as well rebuild the whole rear end and put new gears in - right ? :D HA ! :lol:
Thanks
Kevin
[Modified by ksems, 6:16 AM 8/25/2001]
Thanks for the replies.
So It sounds like the movement is normal
Is there a way to check the trailing arm bushings? ( other than take the
whole thing apart )
How hard is it to drill out the rear hub rivets to get my rotors off and replace
my bearings ( if they are bad )... I did the front bearings myself - no problem.
You know, if I end up replacing the trailing arm bushings, I might as well rebuild the whole rear end and put new gears in - right ? :D HA ! :lol:
Thanks
Kevin
[Modified by ksems, 6:16 AM 8/25/2001]
Burning Brakes
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From: waller texas
Cruise-In I Veteran
Re: Halfshafts/ U - joints - problem ? (ksems)
unless you have access to a hyd press then you will need to get the bearing remover tool from vette brakes or someone.you can't remove the hub bearings without one of them.i haven't used the tool from v/b as i used a press and believe me the bearings take alot of pressure to get off spindle hub.
you can look at the trailing arm bushings and see if they are worn oblong or are pushing out where the bolt goes thru them.i got my bushings from v/b and they came with tool to flare the bushing washers on the tube going thru bushings.kit comes with all the bushings and decent price also.
do we ever stop working on these toys? wave on \ ////
you can look at the trailing arm bushings and see if they are worn oblong or are pushing out where the bolt goes thru them.i got my bushings from v/b and they came with tool to flare the bushing washers on the tube going thru bushings.kit comes with all the bushings and decent price also.
do we ever stop working on these toys? wave on \ ////
