rear universal joints
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 145
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento, CA USA
rear universal joints
Has anyone actually tried replacing these themselves? My four rear U-joints are pretty much shot. The local shop is telling me $780 to replace them. Seems kinda high for parts that are just a few dollars each. But it seems like the suspension is in the way so it might be worth paying to have it done. I haven't crawled under there to look myself yet, I wanted some opinions before I got dirty. Anyone?
In case my profile isn't working, I have a plain 1990 Corvette coupe with straight pipes running out the back.
In case my profile isn't working, I have a plain 1990 Corvette coupe with straight pipes running out the back.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,858
Likes: 7
From: Santa Maria CA
Save the money and do it yourself. It's not that hard.
Step by step with photos:
http://personal.tmlp.com/scorp/vette/images/ujoints/
When finished, give yourself a star.
Step by step with photos:
http://personal.tmlp.com/scorp/vette/images/ujoints/
When finished, give yourself a star.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,043
Likes: 8
From: Tampa Florida
Save the money and do it yourself. It's not that hard.
Step by step with photos:
http://personal.tmlp.com/scorp/vette/images/ujoints/
When finished, give yourself a star.
Step by step with photos:
http://personal.tmlp.com/scorp/vette/images/ujoints/
When finished, give yourself a star.
Go back in there with the Spicer U joints brand....they seem to last longer.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 16,837
Likes: 337
From: Database Error Indiana
Save the money and do it yourself. It's not that hard.
Step by step with photos:
http://personal.tmlp.com/scorp/vette/images/ujoints/
When finished, give yourself a star.
Step by step with photos:
http://personal.tmlp.com/scorp/vette/images/ujoints/
When finished, give yourself a star.
And put $700 back in your pocket. And find a new mechanic. The old one is looking to retire early.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,858
Likes: 7
From: Santa Maria CA
Well, when I first got the vette back when I had no tools, time, or experience to do it myself, I paid a mechanic to do it for me. I spent about $180 total and I supplied the 4 half shaft joints. I used him because he had reputable C4 experience and knew what he was doing. $780 is pretty high.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 11,470
Likes: 763
Save the money and do it yourself. It's not that hard.
Step by step with photos:
http://personal.tmlp.com/scorp/vette/images/ujoints/
When finished, give yourself a star.
Step by step with photos:
http://personal.tmlp.com/scorp/vette/images/ujoints/
When finished, give yourself a star.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 567
Likes: 36
From: Fairfax VA
Check this post for a source for the u-joints:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-g...o-ujoints.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-g...o-ujoints.html
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,392
Likes: 377
From: Cincinnati Ohio
Save the money and do it yourself. It's not that hard.
Step by step with photos:
http://personal.tmlp.com/scorp/vette/images/ujoints/
When finished, give yourself a star.
Step by step with photos:
http://personal.tmlp.com/scorp/vette/images/ujoints/
When finished, give yourself a star.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 145
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento, CA USA
Thanks folks! This is what I wanted to hear. I guess the mechanics in central Florida are all in cahoots. I went to three different shops and ot pretty close to the same price at each. I couldn't understand why they wanted so much. I changed the u-joints on my old Jeep three years ago and I remember it wasn't that tough. Based on your FANTASTIC instructions my Jeep was easier, but still . . . $780?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,141
Likes: 7
From: Metairie Louisiana
Easy job. Do it yourself. Get the spicer sealed u-joints without grease fittings. I picked up a u joint kit from harbor freight and a few of their really long socket extensions.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=38335
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=39193
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...placement.html
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=38335
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=39193
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...placement.html
Last edited by rickneworleansla; Jan 19, 2009 at 08:44 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,858
Likes: 7
From: Santa Maria CA
If you don't have a bench vise, rent the ball joint press tool from Autozone. Should be able to do it with that one. You get your deposit back when you return it. Yes you can buy the Harbor Freight one, but you'll probably have it sitting around collecting dust before you need it again.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 7,999
Likes: 14
From: Life is just one big track event. Everything before and after is prep and warm-up and cool-down laps
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In IV Veteran
St. Jude Donor '12
I bought the harbor freight ball joint press and it pressed out the old U-joints from the half-shafts and pressed in the new ones perfectly.
If I wasn't rebuilding the entire suspension I'd be done by now.
If I wasn't rebuilding the entire suspension I'd be done by now.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 4,532
Likes: 7
From: Lahaina Hi
I'll be in your area next September,I'll do it for a rental car for a week.Their are 2 different u-joints for the corvette,one is for the alum half shaft and the other is for the steel half shaft.I would get the cyroed for the streel shaft and they should hold for the life of the car ,Denny's drive shafts carries them and rea morrison and strange in Califronia.
The cost is around $55.00 each.You will need a jack and a vice and a socket just a little smaller than the shaft hole.You might need a pry bar if you are lazy like me to get the half shaft back in.I am to lazy to remove the dog bones.
