U-Joint Help
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 130
Likes: 2
From: Bowling Green Kentucky
U-Joint Help
Im thinking its time to replace all the u-joints on my 89. Had any luck with a certain make/model/brand? Is replacing the axle shaft ones a pain?
Any advice would be appreciated
Any advice would be appreciated
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 16,834
Likes: 337
From: Database Error Indiana
Try this. Scorp508 did it. Vader86 made it available.
http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c4/vad...orpujoint.html
http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c4/vad...orpujoint.html
Pro
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 610
Likes: 1
I'll share my recent experiences with you.
Getting the shafts off is a pain. You have to undo enough stuff to free the rear of the knuckle so that it can swing out a little. Then the joints needed some persuasion to part company with the axle stubs after (in my case) 13 years.
The joints in the half shafts were really in there. I used a ball joint press to remove them and when they let loose, they let loose with a bang. I was rather surprised, then, to find that the replacements were rather a loose fit. In fact, I loctite-ed the worst one.
Perhaps I was a little too enthusiastic in cleaning out the bores, so don't overdo that part. It is necessary to get the snap ring grooves nice and clean. I fabricated a tool from a piece of an old circlip which I held with small vicegrips and used to scrape the groove clean. Worked out well.
They say you are supposed to use specially coated joints with the aluminum yokes.
Of course, while you are in there...(haha)
Getting the shafts off is a pain. You have to undo enough stuff to free the rear of the knuckle so that it can swing out a little. Then the joints needed some persuasion to part company with the axle stubs after (in my case) 13 years.
The joints in the half shafts were really in there. I used a ball joint press to remove them and when they let loose, they let loose with a bang. I was rather surprised, then, to find that the replacements were rather a loose fit. In fact, I loctite-ed the worst one.
Perhaps I was a little too enthusiastic in cleaning out the bores, so don't overdo that part. It is necessary to get the snap ring grooves nice and clean. I fabricated a tool from a piece of an old circlip which I held with small vicegrips and used to scrape the groove clean. Worked out well.
They say you are supposed to use specially coated joints with the aluminum yokes.
Of course, while you are in there...(haha)
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,150
Likes: 239
From: Northern VA
I just did it yesterday. I had the rear apart anyway so it made it easier. I was able to press them out with a table vise. When I installed them, they were bound up a little. I tapped them with a punch and a hammer and that loosened them up so they moved freely. I got my joints from NAPA. They were "Precision" brand but said spicer on them. They are solids. As noted above, stay away from the zerked ones. 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,735
Likes: 411
From: WV
I got mine from thepartsladi on ebay , they are AC Delco joints and after 2 years have had no problems. Cost for all 6 ( this includes driveshaft) was around $80.00. This might really not make a difference but I marked my shafts to make sure they went in the same way they came out.....WW
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,006
Likes: 2
From: Spartanburg South Carolina
I just did it yesterday. I had the rear apart anyway so it made it easier. I was able to press them out with a table vise. When I installed them, they were bound up a little. I tapped them with a punch and a hammer and that loosened them up so they moved freely. I got my joints from NAPA. They were "Precision" brand but said spicer on them. They are solids. As noted above, stay away from the zerked ones.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,765
Likes: 5
You probably will break any U-joint in the rear half shafts within 1 month of playing hard.
Precision is good.
Dana Spicer likely better.
What matters more to me is " Are they made in the USA or not?"
If not made in the USA, I only accept other parts made in Australia, England, Germany, Canada, France.
Anywhere else of parts origin & materials I start swearing out loud.
Thats just me though.
I have bad experiences almost daily with Cheap china made parts I have to install on Customers' cars & trucks.
Sometimes I have to go through 4 or 5 different boxes of brake pads to find a set of the same Part # to fit into a front or rear brake caliper bracket.
the quality of aftermarket parts for daily driver's is really that bad these days.
Often I want to chuck/ throw those cheaply made parts full force across the highway nearby.
BR
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,006
Likes: 2
From: Spartanburg South Carolina
You have Jim's (421TPI) stroker sbc going into your Vette soon.
You probably will break any U-joint in the rear half shafts within 1 month of playing hard.
Precision is good.
Dana Spicer likely better.
What matters more to me is " Are they made in the USA or not?"
If not made in the USA, I only accept other parts made in Australia, England, Germany, Canada, France.
Anywhere else of parts origin & materials I start swearing out loud.
Thats just me though.
I have bad experiences almost daily with Cheap china made parts I have to install on Customers' cars & trucks.
Sometimes I have to go through 4 or 5 different boxes of brake pads to find a set of the same Part # to fit into a front or rear brake caliper bracket.
the quality of aftermarket parts for daily driver's is really that bad these days.
Often I want to chuck/ throw those cheaply made parts full force across the highway nearby.
BR
You probably will break any U-joint in the rear half shafts within 1 month of playing hard.
Precision is good.
Dana Spicer likely better.
What matters more to me is " Are they made in the USA or not?"
If not made in the USA, I only accept other parts made in Australia, England, Germany, Canada, France.
Anywhere else of parts origin & materials I start swearing out loud.
Thats just me though.
I have bad experiences almost daily with Cheap china made parts I have to install on Customers' cars & trucks.
Sometimes I have to go through 4 or 5 different boxes of brake pads to find a set of the same Part # to fit into a front or rear brake caliper bracket.
the quality of aftermarket parts for daily driver's is really that bad these days.
Often I want to chuck/ throw those cheaply made parts full force across the highway nearby.
BR
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,765
Likes: 5
Yeah i figure i will end up breakin them all anyway. Just figured if I'm gonna get something I'd better get the good ones so they'll hold up alittle longer. The ones i got are made in USA. I know it's a good brand also i just got them though cause this thread mentioned that spicer and precision were the same thing but mine didn't say precision on them
Don't sweat any more "bullets" than you have to now.
Brian
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,624
Likes: 431
From: Dale City VA
The Spicer solid seem to be the best.
I broke my brand new NEAPCO Brute Force UJoints in 6 passes at the race track. Took out an outer stub axel and both halfshafts when they let go.
I bought a used stub axel, 2 used halfshafts and rebuilt the halfshafts with new Spicer UJoints from Denny's Driveshaft.
Last week I made my 25th pass without failure.
Will
I broke my brand new NEAPCO Brute Force UJoints in 6 passes at the race track. Took out an outer stub axel and both halfshafts when they let go.
I bought a used stub axel, 2 used halfshafts and rebuilt the halfshafts with new Spicer UJoints from Denny's Driveshaft.
Last week I made my 25th pass without failure.
Will
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,024
Likes: 4
From: Austin TX
I don't fully remember how, but I managed to get the halfshafts out without disconnecting anything in the wheel assembly. I also didn't disconnect the C-Beam for the driveshaft. Just throwing it out there, it's possible
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,006
Likes: 2
From: Spartanburg South Carolina
Well in my case i have the entire rear end out of the car lol. I actually bought the vette that jmoore79(Josh) used to own(He started this thread back when he had it) and am going completely going through it! I already put the Precisions in so they're gonna have to do for now. They're pretty beefy. Next set I'll get Spicer's
