The driveshaft joints almost never go bad anyway.
U joint replacement
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,024
Likes: 4
From: Austin TX
U joint replacement
Local chevy dealer told me the part would be $87.
ZIP tells me different.
Zip - Corvette
Would this be the right part? Or would I need something else? What do you recommend?
ZIP tells me different.
Zip - Corvette
Would this be the right part? Or would I need something else? What do you recommend?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,024
Likes: 4
From: Austin TX
Autozone
You might be brilliant.
I found this guy: http://www.ehow.com/video_2328177_in...tml?cp=1&pid=1
He has a video guide that seems good, but he's hammer happy.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 897
Likes: 12
From: Land of Whiskey Rebels, PA
First of all, we've got aluminum drive shafts. They need to be pressed in, not hammered on.
Secondly, my original u-joints came without zerk (grease) fittings. I think they're called "Lifetime" universals. I wanted the option of greasing them myself, so I bought new ones with zerk fittings. When I installed them, I found that I could not get a grease gun fitting onto the zerk fitting after the drive shaft was installed. No way. Obviously, I pulled it back out and replaced the unversals, AGAIN.
Just something I learned and thought I'd pass on.
Mike
'90 'vert
Secondly, my original u-joints came without zerk (grease) fittings. I think they're called "Lifetime" universals. I wanted the option of greasing them myself, so I bought new ones with zerk fittings. When I installed them, I found that I could not get a grease gun fitting onto the zerk fitting after the drive shaft was installed. No way. Obviously, I pulled it back out and replaced the unversals, AGAIN.Just something I learned and thought I'd pass on.
Mike
'90 'vert
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,024
Likes: 4
From: Austin TX
First of all, we've got aluminum drive shafts. They need to be pressed in, not hammered on. Secondly, my original u-joints came without zerk (grease) fittings. I think they're called "Lifetime" universals. I wanted the option of greasing them myself, so I bought new ones with zerk fittings. When I installed them, I found that I could not get a grease gun fitting onto the zerk fitting after the drive shaft was installed. No way. Obviously, I pulled it back out and replaced the unversals, AGAIN.
Just something I learned and thought I'd pass on.
Mike
'90 'vert
Secondly, my original u-joints came without zerk (grease) fittings. I think they're called "Lifetime" universals. I wanted the option of greasing them myself, so I bought new ones with zerk fittings. When I installed them, I found that I could not get a grease gun fitting onto the zerk fitting after the drive shaft was installed. No way. Obviously, I pulled it back out and replaced the unversals, AGAIN.Just something I learned and thought I'd pass on.
Mike
'90 'vert
Knowing my history with vehicles, I'll somehow turn it into a 5+ hour job.
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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
$20 - $30 Harbor Freight Ball joint removal tool (looks like a big C-clamp)
A socket to fit the press, and either an electric or air impact wrench and you could do it in 30 min.
It will take 5 hours cause you will want to clean, this, that and the other thing.
Been there - done that. When I did my suspension rebuild I spent 1 1/2 weekends taking it all apart and 3 weeks of evenings and weekends cleaning it all up and putting in new bushings. Then 3 days to put it all back together.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 11,470
Likes: 764
It will take 5 hours cause you will want to clean, this, that and the other thing.
Been there - done that. When I did my suspension rebuild I spent 1 1/2 weekends taking it all apart and 3 weeks of evenings and weekends cleaning it all up and putting in new bushings. Then 3 days to put it all back together.
Been there - done that. When I did my suspension rebuild I spent 1 1/2 weekends taking it all apart and 3 weeks of evenings and weekends cleaning it all up and putting in new bushings. Then 3 days to put it all back together.
- 
- been there done that too...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,043
Likes: 8
From: Tampa Florida
My 2 cents:
Most C4 vette owners - myself included, have discovered that all U joints are not created equal instead of bargin hunting for a part that won't last go with the "Spicer" brand of U joint for the best durability.
Most C4 vette owners - myself included, have discovered that all U joints are not created equal instead of bargin hunting for a part that won't last go with the "Spicer" brand of U joint for the best durability.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,616
Likes: 5
From: Sandhills of North Carolina
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,107
Likes: 171
From: Dublin CA
If you can find them in your area, Spicer is the way to go. They do not have zerk fittings which means that they can take more loading before breaking as compared to the hollow U-Joints with zerks. The last ones I bought also had a special coating on the caps to prevent the steel from reacting to the aluminum shaft.
