Half Shaft Installation Concern.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 385
Likes: 3
From: Hamilton Mass
Half Shaft Installation Concern.
Hi,
I just installed one of the half shafts in my 1970. ---- Note: the rear shocks and rear spring have been removed at this point and the second half shaft is out of the car.
My concern is this: when I rotate the rotor by hand it rotates freely for about 180 degrees or so then it become VERY difficult requiring a lot of effort --- and then I notice the trailing arm pivoting upward until it drops back down and the rotor starts turning freely again.
What's going on? --- Have I done something wrong or is this normal?
Note: the car is up on jack stands with the manual transmission in neutral.
Thank you!
I just installed one of the half shafts in my 1970. ---- Note: the rear shocks and rear spring have been removed at this point and the second half shaft is out of the car.
My concern is this: when I rotate the rotor by hand it rotates freely for about 180 degrees or so then it become VERY difficult requiring a lot of effort --- and then I notice the trailing arm pivoting upward until it drops back down and the rotor starts turning freely again.
What's going on? --- Have I done something wrong or is this normal?
Note: the car is up on jack stands with the manual transmission in neutral.
Thank you!
Last edited by 1966STER; May 23, 2009 at 09:30 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 6,422
Likes: 591
From: McHenry Illinois
It sounds like u-joint bind in the half shaft. Try supporting the trailing arm in the normal position, it will probably be smooth. It's not designed to be hanging that low, the half shaft is nearly horizontal during normal operation.
Last edited by '75; May 23, 2009 at 09:34 AM.
Pro
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 593
Likes: 0
From: Warrenville IL
With the car up in the air that is normal since the trailing arm is not really sitting at the normal angle. So the trailing arm will move upward as your move through the hard part of the rotation. It should be fine.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 385
Likes: 3
From: Hamilton Mass
Thank you everybody! ---That is exactly what is was!!! --- I brought the trailing arm up to a more normal position with my jack and the rotor now rotates freely 360 degrees.
Ralph
Ralph
Last edited by 1966STER; May 23, 2009 at 04:53 PM.
Former Vendor
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 766
Likes: 3
From: Charlotte North Carolina 704-394-5150
I hope that you are using the CORRECT french locks to secure the torque on the four bolts that hold the half shaft u-joint flange to the bearing flange instead of lock washers and or lok-tight. Also I hope you used solid universal joinits made by SPICER instead of teh others that just don't cut it. Also If you put universal joints in your car with grease fittings.....BIG MISTAKE!!!! Solid u-joints only. Spicer part number 5-799x for the 1/2 shafts. If you see one and compare it to what you have, you can CLEARLY tell which is better. I give a 5-year 50,000 mile guarantee and NEVER have any problems out of them for my customers, many last well over 50,000 before they need replacing.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,911
Likes: 2
From: gold coast queensland
I hope that you are using the CORRECT french locks to secure the torque on the four bolts that hold the half shaft u-joint flange to the bearing flange instead of lock washers and or lok-tight. Also I hope you used solid universal joinits made by SPICER instead of teh others that just don't cut it. Also If you put universal joints in your car with grease fittings.....BIG MISTAKE!!!! Solid u-joints only. Spicer part number 5-799x for the 1/2 shafts. If you see one and compare it to what you have, you can CLEARLY tell which is better. I give a 5-year 50,000 mile guarantee and NEVER have any problems out of them for my customers, many last well over 50,000 before they need replacing.
