C4 U Joint?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 170
Likes: 0
From: hopatcong NJ
C4 U Joint?
anyone out there ever incounter a bad u joint, i have pinging noise coming from the right side and i checked the brakes and pretty sure its not that, happens more when first start out, when them is presure, if you driving and not on gas doesnt do it also i am getting a slight vibration over 70 mph and just had brand new tires put on and balanced...anything else it could be? 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,141
Likes: 7
From: Metairie Louisiana
anyone out there ever incounter a bad u joint, i have pinging noise coming from the right side and i checked the brakes and pretty sure its not that, happens more when first start out, when them is presure, if you driving and not on gas doesnt do it also i am getting a slight vibration over 70 mph and just had brand new tires put on and balanced...anything else it could be?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,022
Likes: 3
From: Chandler Arizona
i actually posted about the same thing about three days ago. it was my u-joints (driver side half shaft). relatively easy job, get a quality set of u-joints, you don't want to be doing this again anytime soon.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,141
Likes: 7
From: Metairie Louisiana
I went to harbor freight and bought the really long three pack of socket extensions and a U-joint press. Not too hard of a job at all. Go with the Spicer sealed joints. I was told not to add grease on the caps when installing.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=39193
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=38335
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=39193
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=38335
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,455
Likes: 6
From: MichAgain
I've had my rear suspension apart a few times, it's not too bad. Just make sure you mark the position of the bolts that efect the angle of the dogbone (inboard end has a degree plate on them and turning the bolt has a cam effect and changes the angle of the suspension).
To undo the spring bolts (outboard), put a piece of wood or a hockey puck on a floorjack and lift on the spring, then loosen the bolt and let the jack down slowly.
To get to the inboard joint bearing cap bolts (8mm) use a very long (24") extension and you can get to them pretty easy from in the wheel well instead of trying to bend and twist your hand around all the suspension pieces from underneath. Have the e-brake off and tranny in neutral because you'll have to rotate the shafts to get to the cap bolts.
Good luck getting the joints out of the shafts...I broke a 4" vice and nearly broke a 6" trying to free them. Had to take a trip to a machine shop
Don't forget a soothing radio station and refreshments
To undo the spring bolts (outboard), put a piece of wood or a hockey puck on a floorjack and lift on the spring, then loosen the bolt and let the jack down slowly.
To get to the inboard joint bearing cap bolts (8mm) use a very long (24") extension and you can get to them pretty easy from in the wheel well instead of trying to bend and twist your hand around all the suspension pieces from underneath. Have the e-brake off and tranny in neutral because you'll have to rotate the shafts to get to the cap bolts.
Good luck getting the joints out of the shafts...I broke a 4" vice and nearly broke a 6" trying to free them. Had to take a trip to a machine shop
Don't forget a soothing radio station and refreshments
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,858
Likes: 7
From: Santa Maria CA
Fill a spray bottle with motor oil. Spray oil on one u-joint at a time and take a test drive after each one. If the noise changes, it's a u-joint and you might as well change them all.
http://personal.tmlp.com/scorp/vette/images/ujoints/
Mine sounded more like a loud squeaking door hinge that followed wheel speed and only under acceleration. It would go quiet with foot off gas. I isolated the u-joints with the spray bottle method, then replaced them. Never heard the noise again.
Clicks and clunks usually come from the spindle splines being rusty and hub bearing assemblies.
http://personal.tmlp.com/scorp/vette/images/ujoints/
Mine sounded more like a loud squeaking door hinge that followed wheel speed and only under acceleration. It would go quiet with foot off gas. I isolated the u-joints with the spray bottle method, then replaced them. Never heard the noise again.
Clicks and clunks usually come from the spindle splines being rusty and hub bearing assemblies.
