Got a quote to have the drive shaft u-joints replaced. $482!
I know the exhaust has to be dropped but $482?

 

Sounds a little high, but they probably included the time to move the C-beam over as well. This can be a real b***** of a job. Three hours labor plus parts, cleanup, taxes.

I did mine in a little over 6 hours, but I took my time. Plus, thanks to a crappy shorty header install by the previous owner, the exhaust flanges near the cats have been removed. Thus to drop the exhaust, I had to unbolt at the exhaust manifolds. Getting all that back up in one piece was pretty tough.

 

I may just do it myself also, where did you lift and support yours?

 

Seems a little high- you can remove the d/s on the manual trans cars without doing anything to the c-beam. Spicer u-joints are gonna be $20-something each and those are the best you can get.

 

I put the back wheels on ramps.

 

Sounds good. What about this C-beam that mike100 mentioned? I do have a six speed. I saw a nice adapter on the web that mounts to a floor jack as to lift on the rear end. I'm gonna weld one up tomorrow, hopefully out of some 1/2" steel I have.

 

$485 with parts. It may sounds high. Lets see.

Got to lift the car, or jack all corners.
Remove emergency cable
Remove the exhaust
Loose driveshaft u-joints-1
Loose half-shafts u-joints-4
Loose rods
Loose axle/link toe rods
Loose monosring's end bolts
Press out all u-joints-6

I can have the differential on the floor in 3 hours, and that is taking my time, and in 95°F.

FYI to remove u-joints in a C4 is a PITA.

This is also a perfect time to change transmission, and differential fluids.

I think I would also charge you in the $400 range to remove & install all u-joints.

 

$400 range for all the u-joints is a good price but they quoted me for only the drive shaft. Too bad your so far away otherwise I'd have you do it. Sounds like you've done it a few times. Actually, if anyone here in the Notre Dame college area is interested shoot me a price! I'd really rather not do this but I really don't want to do this if I can avoid it.

 

you may not need to drop the "C" support beam -

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1589752795 -- post #5

 

Just driveshaft, yep that mechanic is ripping you off. Only need a 5/16" wrench, and press the u joints out.

Easy project

 

Hi

Get all six universal joints replaced, 2x at the drive shaft and 4x on the half shafts. Do them all at once, that is your best option.
The half shaft ones wear much more quickly.

You only need to remove the exhaust, that takes all of a few mins.
Then remove the drive shaft bolts and pry the drive shaft from diff yoke, then push into trans as far as possible.
I could clear the handbrake cable with my driveshaft, was a easy job.

You need a large bench vice, some sockets and circlip pliers.

The half shafts are a little more involved, you need to raise the rear of the ground. Remove the wheels and split pin and use a (36mm socket) you can get 1/2 inch impact socket for that to remove the spindle nut, now it is torqued to around 160 or 180 foot pounds so you need a large pipe for a lever.
Handbrake on and in park or gear and remove the nuts /washer.

Remove the lower control arm rod, i did mine by removing the diff bracket bolts and sliding it off the diff to keep alignment.
Now hand brake off and gearbox neutral, remove the uni joint retainers at diff.

Pry the universal joint from diff, get someone to pull the bottom control arm so the half shaft can be removed.

Yes it is quite easy but allow a few hours to do the job (all 6 universal joints) That is where the labour charge gets you at least 3 hours.... the universal joints are only $20-30 each.

Spicer brand universal joints are the only ones good enough for your corvette.

They are the best..