U-joint replacement on an 81? 2 types?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 162
Likes: 0
From: Indian Trail NC
U-joint replacement on an 81? 2 types?
Okay I’m getting conflicting information about the u-joints I’m trying to replace on my 81. I’m going with Spicers and on the Daba website they list 2 separate part numbers for the drive shaft and axles. But when I called my parts guy, he said there is only 1 listed. Just for fun I went to Autozone to see what would show up there and only 1 was recommended. Is this true for an 81 with an automatic?
Unfortunately the car and old joints are an hour and ½ away for me to go and measure them!!! So are my manuals!!!
Unfortunately the car and old joints are an hour and ½ away for me to go and measure them!!! So are my manuals!!!
Last edited by Plane_guy; Mar 18, 2009 at 08:40 AM. Reason: added comment
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,992
Likes: 56
From: Antioch IL
I just changed mine on my 81. napa and Autozone, etc.... local part stores say that there is only one number. This is wrong. the ones on the drive shaft are slightly shorter. When i get back to my home i will post the part numbers of the ones i used.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 162
Likes: 0
From: Indian Trail NC
I saw that the manual had different sizes. I'm wondering if that is why 2 show up on the Dana site since they don't has a listing for manual vs auto?? Does anyone have the part number for the solid Spicers?
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,682
Likes: 3
From: League City TX
The half shafts on an 81 auto car should use 1330 u-joints.
Solid Spicer joint # 5-790X
The driveshaft should use 1310 joints.
Solid Spicer joint # 5-785X
Solid Spicer joint # 5-790X
The driveshaft should use 1310 joints.
Solid Spicer joint # 5-785X
Last edited by DRIVESHAFT; Mar 18, 2009 at 01:03 PM. Reason: added info
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,625
Likes: 242
From: Russell Ontario
St. Jude Donor '09
I have an 80 and the drive shaft ones are two diff sizes,the half shafts at the back are all the same , I agree go with spicer, but I kept the grease fittings , I don't drive the car hard and I love to grease it, lots.
Ron
Ron
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,682
Likes: 3
From: League City TX
The 80-81 Vettes should have different sizes on the driveshaft if they are a 4 speed car.
There should be a 1330 joint at the trans & 1310 at the diff.
Automatic cars should have 1310 joints front and rear on the driveshaft.
There should be a 1330 joint at the trans & 1310 at the diff.
Automatic cars should have 1310 joints front and rear on the driveshaft.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 57
From: Mundelein Illinois
80 - 81 U joints
Automatic
Half Shafts 4 joints 602-916
Drive Shaft
Rear 602-914
Front 602-914
Manual
Half Shafts 4 joints 602-920
Drive Shaft
Rear 602-916
Front 602-914
From Mid-America
Automatic
Half Shafts 4 joints 602-916
Drive Shaft
Rear 602-914
Front 602-914
Manual
Half Shafts 4 joints 602-920
Drive Shaft
Rear 602-916
Front 602-914
From Mid-America
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,259
Likes: 2
From: MS
Last edited by wfo76; Mar 18, 2009 at 06:02 PM. Reason: corrected post below
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,259
Likes: 2
From: MS
Wait, I think we had the manual front and rear joints backwards.
Pretty sure this is how it should be:
Spicer joint numbers:
80 - 81 U joints
Automatic
Half Shafts 4 joints 5-790X (solid) or 5-213X (greaseable)
Drive Shaft
Rear 5-785X (solid) or 5-153X (greaseable)
Front 5-785X (solid) or 5-153X (greaseable)
Manual
Half Shafts 4 joints 5-799X (solid) or 5-178X (greaseable)
Drive Shaft
Rear 5-785X (solid) or 5-153X (greaseable)
Front 5-790X (solid) or 5-213X (greaseable)
Pretty sure this is how it should be:
Spicer joint numbers:
80 - 81 U joints
Automatic
Half Shafts 4 joints 5-790X (solid) or 5-213X (greaseable)
Drive Shaft
Rear 5-785X (solid) or 5-153X (greaseable)
Front 5-785X (solid) or 5-153X (greaseable)
Manual
Half Shafts 4 joints 5-799X (solid) or 5-178X (greaseable)
Drive Shaft
Rear 5-785X (solid) or 5-153X (greaseable)
Front 5-790X (solid) or 5-213X (greaseable)
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 826
Likes: 119
From: Lincoln NE Riding and Driving Corvettes since 1967.
Unless you have a 1/4 mile car, I cant think of ANY reason to install a Spicer joint without a grease zerk. These are under a lot of stress due to the constantly changing angle and that creates heat. No grease zerk means you have no way to regrease them until you take them out again. How many times do you want to remove the half shafts?
Unless you have some 500 hp monster motor there is no way you are going to break a u-joint (especially a spicer), and with that auto tranny, you dont have anything to worry about. Put in the greasable 5-213x and you will never ever have to worry about them again.
bigredbrad
Unless you have some 500 hp monster motor there is no way you are going to break a u-joint (especially a spicer), and with that auto tranny, you dont have anything to worry about. Put in the greasable 5-213x and you will never ever have to worry about them again.
bigredbrad
