French Locks Hit Trailing Arm
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: Richmond Virginia
French Locks Hit Trailing Arm
Hello All,
I am doing a body off on my 76. While installing new half shafts on the rear, i noticed the french locks on the outboard shafts hit the trailing arms.
The frame is on jack stands, so the shafts are currently at a pretty steep angle, but I see no way they are going to clear once on the ground. The Trailing Arms are the offset units from VB&P, though I cant see it should matter. There were no french locks on these shafts when I disassembled them, only lock washers on the outer flange bolts. Can I just forgo the french locks and use lockwashers? Any input would be appreciated.
I am doing a body off on my 76. While installing new half shafts on the rear, i noticed the french locks on the outboard shafts hit the trailing arms.
The frame is on jack stands, so the shafts are currently at a pretty steep angle, but I see no way they are going to clear once on the ground. The Trailing Arms are the offset units from VB&P, though I cant see it should matter. There were no french locks on these shafts when I disassembled them, only lock washers on the outer flange bolts. Can I just forgo the french locks and use lockwashers? Any input would be appreciated.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,319
Likes: 7
From: Wilmington DE, Drive it like you stole it, 68 327 4 speed coupe
Hello All,
I am doing a body off on my 76. While installing new half shafts on the rear, i noticed the french locks on the outboard shafts hit the trailing arms. The frame is on jack stands, so the shafts are currently at a pretty steep angle, but I see no way they are going to clear once on the ground. The Trailing Arms are the offset units from VB&P, though I cant see it should matter. There were no french locks on these shafts when I disassembled them, only lock washers on the outer flange bolts. Can I just forgo the french locks and use lockwashers? Any input would be appreciated.
I am doing a body off on my 76. While installing new half shafts on the rear, i noticed the french locks on the outboard shafts hit the trailing arms.
The frame is on jack stands, so the shafts are currently at a pretty steep angle, but I see no way they are going to clear once on the ground. The Trailing Arms are the offset units from VB&P, though I cant see it should matter. There were no french locks on these shafts when I disassembled them, only lock washers on the outer flange bolts. Can I just forgo the french locks and use lockwashers? Any input would be appreciated.when I did mine they didnt hit, but you can just bend them up and out of the way once the tabs are set and they'll be fine.....
if you so chose, you can use lock washers, though of course there was a debate on this, use some thread locker as weel
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,428
Likes: 5
From: Japan
As far as I can tell from my (1970) factory Service Manual french locks weren't installed on the outboard ends- just split-type lockwashers. You will also notice that those bolts should be UNF (read:fine) threads. They used those threads (there and only there, as fine threads cost more) for security. Use (new) lockwashers, put a drop or two of Loctite on each one, and they'll be fine. BTW, it's a little surprising to hear that you're undertaking a project as complex as a body-off without a good baseline reference such as a Factory Service Manual or Assembly Instruction Manual. Even if you're going to incorporate various 'improvements' throughout the process it's nice to know how the factory did things. There's usually a method to the factory's madness....
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: Richmond Virginia
As far as I can tell from my (1970) factory Service Manual french locks weren't installed on the outboard ends- just split-type lockwashers. You will also notice that those bolts should be UNF (read:fine) threads. They used those threads (there and only there, as fine threads cost more) for security. Use (new) lockwashers, put a drop or two of Loctite on each one, and they'll be fine. BTW, it's a little surprising to hear that you're undertaking a project as complex as a body-off without a good baseline reference such as a Factory Service Manual or Assembly Instruction Manual. Even if you're going to incorporate various 'improvements' throughout the process it's nice to know how the factory did things. There's usually a method to the factory's madness....
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,319
Likes: 7
From: Wilmington DE, Drive it like you stole it, 68 327 4 speed coupe
I am using the AIM, which does show the use of the french locks. I was just a bit confused that none were found during disassembly. I have owned this car since new and have always just put the original lock washers back in place after changing the u-joint. Thanks for the information.
what year is your vette? (no profile info)
the AIM shows the locks for sure depending on year
you say there were no locks or washers when you took it apart?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,024
Likes: 1
From: AL
they must be making them slightly different these days. . . i've had to bend the last couple of sets that i've used where it was never needed in the past. for some unexplainable reason, i prefer them to split washers in that location. they use them to hold the bolts on train wheels . . . i know, i know . . . 0.02
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