U-joints
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 58
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From: Lisbon maine
U-joints
I drove the new vette home last night. When I first pull off I hear a slight knock. I have a very good felling its a u joint. I hear the slight knock ONLY when I first pull off from a stand still. Not when rolling, at no other time. It not a very loud knock, and if the windows are up I dont even hear it. Is this a big job to fix? I am very hand with cars i've worked on them for years, but i've never done a u-joint. Has anyone done one? And how do I know which one is bad? What end of the drive shaft?
Pro
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 702
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From: York PA
Racer
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 302
Likes: 0
From: South Haven Michigan
Waiting a couple weeks shouldn't be a big deal. I just did this to my 89. I got the c-clamp type tool from Harbor Freight for $30 on sale and it made it a breeze to actually change the u-joints out instead of using the sockets-in-the-vise trick. I would recommend a 3/8 drive 8mm socket to break free & final torque the cap bolts, also long extensions to get to the differential-side top bolts from the top instead of the bottom. Also I would recommened a 1/4" drive 8mm flex socket to start them and get them close. I couldn't use a flex joint and a regular 8mm socket, the thick part of the joint was at the wrong spot. Make sure to use "PB Blaster" on the cap bolts 2 days before and then 1 day before and they should come right out. Take the bolt out of the camber rod from the knuckle instead of the differential and you won't need an alignment. Scorp's writeup was very helpful, make sure to clean the bolts and caps like he says.
