U-joint nightmare
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Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Originally Posted by Durango_boy
And the yokes? Do they pull out of the pumkin or are there clips on the inside holding them?
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From: Columbia Missouri
Originally Posted by I'm Batman
Just undo the u-bolts that hold the u-joint to the yoke. If my yokes are shot I'm going to the older BB-style with the cast caps, rather than the u-bolts.
But are the yokes held in by pressure from the outside or are they clipped from inside the pumpkin?
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From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Originally Posted by Durango_boy
But are the yokes held in by pressure from the outside or are they clipped from inside the pumpkin?
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From: Columbia Missouri
Originally Posted by I'm Batman
The yokes are clipped in. If they come out on their own, it's time to open the differential. You don't need to remove them for a u-joint swap.
Sweet. I may end up doing that before I call the suspension and brakes finished. Too much play and I don't like the camber.
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From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Well golllllleeee jeebers. I polished the inside of the holes on the drive flange with a flap wheel and oiled them up. One cap went in with light tapping, the other slid in about halfway with finger pressure, then was tapped the rest of the way down. After some tweaking on the press (including bending the flange back a bit to get rid of the back-bend so the joint wouldn't bind), both clips went in and the joint moves freely. I still had to take a screwdriver and hammer to tap the clips down into their bores, so they're still kinda tight. At least I'm on the way to fixing this mess.
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From: Columbia Missouri
Originally Posted by I'm Batman
Well golllllleeee jeebers. I polished the inside of the holes on the drive flange with a flap wheel and oiled them up. One cap went in with light tapping, the other slid in about halfway with finger pressure, then was tapped the rest of the way down. After some tweaking on the press (including bending the flange back a bit to get rid of the back-bend so the joint wouldn't bind), both clips went in and the joint moves freely. I still had to take a screwdriver and hammer to tap the clips down into their bores, so they're still kinda tight. At least I'm on the way to fixing this mess.
I hope you got it figured out...I've decided I want to do my shaft joints and will want you to give me some pointers and tips. I'll even buy the beer if you come help out..
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Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
I worked on the second drive flange this evening. I removed the u-joint, polished the bores in the flange, used the shim trick to make sure it was straight...and I still can't get one of the clips in. It will almost drop into place...but not quite. I'll sand it down a bit and see if it will go in then.
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Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Columbia Missouri
Originally Posted by I'm Batman
I worked on the second drive flange this evening. I removed the u-joint, polished the bores in the flange, used the shim trick to make sure it was straight...and I still can't get one of the clips in. It will almost drop into place...but not quite. I'll sand it down a bit and see if it will go in then.
Man Hyperchicken you are having a horrible time with those. This would be your luck too...you get them all together, build you're 400+ motor, run the beast hard, and break a joint. You'de have to do all this ALL OVER. Heh. That would suck. Hope you get them figured out.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2005
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Originally Posted by I'm Batman
I worked on the second drive flange this evening. I removed the u-joint, polished the bores in the flange, used the shim trick to make sure it was straight...and I still can't get one of the clips in. It will almost drop into place...but not quite. I'll sand it down a bit and see if it will go in then.
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From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Originally Posted by shafrs3
I guess your not suspecting the u-joints as being too big anymore, did you measure them?
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From: Columbia Missouri
Originally Posted by I'm Batman
I didn't check them, although I suspect the caps are still a tiny bit too big. It seems like I'm using way to much force to get the clips in place - one of them on the drive flange that I had success with had to be persuaded in with a screwdriver and hammer.
Man after all the crap you've gone through I'm not looking forward to doing mine at all...
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From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Originally Posted by Durango_boy
Man after all the crap you've gone through I'm not looking forward to doing mine at all...
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From: Columbia Missouri
Originally Posted by I'm Batman
Bad luck follows me around, bro.
Take a cue from the Rams and try to get lucky. Works for them...
I do mean with the ladies, just as much as with those joint...and not the kinds of joints that light.
Melting Slicks
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Originally Posted by I'm Batman
I didn't check them, although I suspect the caps are still a tiny bit too big. It seems like I'm using way to much force to get the clips in place - one of them on the drive flange that I had success with had to be persuaded in with a screwdriver and hammer.
You are using too much force, there should be a few thousandths running clearance between the cap and the trunnion end, and those clips will just about fall into place if the clearances are correct. This is normally a very straight forward and simple job, I have a feeling that if you continue you'll end up with some annoying vibrations in your drive-line from binding and possibly premature u-joint failure.
Also, think about what the clearances are when things heat up.
Last edited by shafrs3; Oct 10, 2006 at 12:02 PM.
Thread Starter
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From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Originally Posted by shafrs3
What I'm not understanding here is your dealing with some fairly precision components, why aren't you measuring them precisely?
You are using too much force, there should be a few thousandths running clearance between the cap and the trunnion end, and those clips will just about fall into place if the clearances are correct. This is normally a very straight forward and simple job, I have a feeling that if you continue you'll end up with some annoying vibrations in your drive-line from binding and possibly premature u-joint failure.
Also, think about what the clearances are when things heat up.
You are using too much force, there should be a few thousandths running clearance between the cap and the trunnion end, and those clips will just about fall into place if the clearances are correct. This is normally a very straight forward and simple job, I have a feeling that if you continue you'll end up with some annoying vibrations in your drive-line from binding and possibly premature u-joint failure.
Also, think about what the clearances are when things heat up.
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From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Originally Posted by Durango_boy
You're working on the Vette tonight? I thought tomorrow was your big day?
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From: Columbia Missouri
Originally Posted by I'm Batman
It is, but I have three hours right before the show to prep with my partner. I'll try to get in a bit of wrench time to clear my head.
If you need any help just call...I don't have anything else planned.