no such thing 
wrong size half shaft strap? Need help.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 115
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From: pinehurst nc
wrong size half shaft strap? Need help.
Last step before dropping the body back on the frame and this hold up is driving me crazy. Replaced the u joints in the half shaft with brute force ones. Now the straps that hold the trailing arms side u joint in are too small. The trailing arms have been replaced with off set ones and the u joint seems to fit fine in the socket on the trailing arm side. Ordered new straps but they are still too small and every place I check only has one size. Car is a 72 BB and the caps on the yoke coming out of the differential went on with no problem. Anyone have any suggestions?
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
Are you certain that the bearing caps for the "Brute Force" joints are fully seated in the yoke recesses? Are the new caps wider, so that the retainer pins on the yokes are holding the caps out of the cups? If the new caps are the same diameter as your other joints and the overall width of the pair of joint caps is the same, also, it should fit in the yoke properly and use the same retainer straps.
If they don't fit right or the straps "are too small", there is something different about the fit of the new U-joints; and you'll need to figure that out before you complete your work.
If they don't fit right or the straps "are too small", there is something different about the fit of the new U-joints; and you'll need to figure that out before you complete your work.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,305
Likes: 2
From: Lewisburg WV
thegazman
When you say straps, are you referring to the french locks? If so, rotate them 90 degrees and they will then line up with the u-joint bolts. The french locks, (straps) attach on one side to a bearing cap and to a bearing cap on the other side of the u-joint. Seems odd, but that's the way they attach.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 115
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From: pinehurst nc
pic to help clarify
The u joint is fully seated but see the gap between the strap and the u joint cap? Just does not seem right. Hopefully this pic works.
http://i589.photobucket.com/albums/s...0195131200.jpg
http://i589.photobucket.com/albums/s...0195131200.jpg
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Drifting
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,305
Likes: 2
From: Lewisburg WV
thegazman
Is your photo of the u-joint attaching to the differential? If so, you use u-bolts for that connection. Like Mike Ward said the strap is for the driveshaft u-joint. Don't force anything before you discover what you are doing as you'll only create a problem.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 115
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From: pinehurst nc
80-82 spindles
Ok, looks like I have 80-82 spindles on the offset trailing arms. Anyone know if it will make a difference if I use the straps for that year model or will I have to switch the 80-82 strap style flanges out with my old bolt upflange style? Any other problems I will have using them on a 72? All the companies advertise the same part number from 68-82 for the offset arms.
