Well I just had an '80 Corvette shipped to me and the guy brought it here on a car dolly and unhooked the drive shaft. No big deal. I jacked the car up and proceeded to put it back in and just as I was tightening the last u-joint bolt it snapped on me. It broke off in the carrier connecting the shaft to the rear end. It looks like a pain in the butt to get that carrier out. Does anyone have a good procedure for it and/or know where to get the new part that I need? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

Hi, First thing is to take all your wrench's and saw them in half so you wont have the leverage to break any more fastners, second thing is to just take the yoke off and remove the broken portion in a much easier position (rather then tussling with it on the ground!) Good luck,,,,,,,, Peace,,,,,,,,Craig

 

It isn't the end of the shaft or the strap that broke. It is the part that the bolt goes into to hold the drive shaft to the rear end where the bolt sheared off. I am not sure what all I have to remove to take that part off. Thanks for the advice though.

 

Yea, just pulled mine out last night to change the pinion seal. You'll need to jack the car up and support it with stands Disconect the half shafts at the diff. Then disconect the one strut rod from and remove the bolt. Next remove the the strut rod bracket from the bottom of the gear. If you can mark the postion on the cam bolt on the bracket so when you put it all back together it will line backup . Use a floor jack to jack up on one side of the leaf spring, just alittle to remove the bottom bolt and bushing,flat washer and retainer cup. Lower the jack very slow and the spring will drop down past the bolt. (It helps if you have someone to help you). do the same on the other side. Next remove the nut under the pinion . Set the jack under the rearend, with it part way under the leaf spring and part way under the carrier. At this point you only have 2 bilts left. Put pressure on the jack but not alot, you don't want to pick the car up, just support the gear . Remove the two bolts on the cross member that are bolted to the frame. You'll need a pry bar to remove the cross member. Pry from the front and the back by the cupone side at a time It might take a while to get it to move but it will. Let off a little on the jack and pry some more. Once it's loose have someone lower the the jack while you hold the rear from flopping over. Just pull the gear out and your done. You should be able to drill out the broken bolt with not to much trouble. Just reverse the order to put everything back together. I hope this helps you out. Good luck Vince

 

Vince:

I am also going to change the pinion seal while the rear is out. I am also going to change the side yoke seals. Have you done that as well? Is it just a matter of removing the snap ring on the yoke for it to come out?

Mike

 

Mike

Yes your correct. Now on your pinion seal make sure you count the number of threads showing on the pinion nut before you remove it. When you put the nut back on you'll have to 1/2 thread past were it is now to reset the crush collar. good luck Vince

 

Before you try to drill out the broken bolt, pick up a "left hand Drill Bit"

from your local industrial supply house. With just a little luck, it'll back the broken stub out.

 

you talkin about an ez-out?

 

no, it is a drill bit that drills holes with a counterclockwise rotation instead of clockwise. Sometimes the heat from drilling and the counterclockwise rotation will back the stud out. If it doesnt, then you can always put an ez out in the hole and go from there. It seems that this should be done first. Always try the easiest and fastest methods first, you never know...