TIGHT u-joint
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 565
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TIGHT u-joint
i took my half shafts to a shop to have the ujoints pressed in because i could not get them in myself without taking off both caps.
i got them back to day and one of them is REALLY tight and kind of feels like it has a slight grittiness to it. the other 3 move smoothly and freely. any ideas?
thanks
i got them back to day and one of them is REALLY tight and kind of feels like it has a slight grittiness to it. the other 3 move smoothly and freely. any ideas?
thanks
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,976
Likes: 244
Use something blunt (I use an old dull chisel) to give it a few taps with a hammer on the body of the u joint. You'll want to tap it towards one of the 'ears' on the half shaft. Since you were not the one to install them you won't know which side it is binding on. Try both till it loosens up. It's just binding on one side a bit and will free up.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 611
Likes: 28
From: Olympia WA
jmgtp is right, I was a GM tech for a good few yrs and replaced many u-joints. Smack it with a decent sized hammer and it should free up. Although the tech should of made sure it was perfect before returning it to the customer.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 565
Likes: 0
THANKS! i inspected it a little more and noticed one of the clips was bulging out. so i took it out and took a socket and tapped it a few times and it seated and free'd it up. however now it has a dead spot where it has no resistance. i guess i would describe it as play in a wheel bearing. should i take the ujoint out and get a new one?
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,976
Likes: 244
Hard to tell what you mean by no resistance. Does the joint just flop back and forth? I would've tapped on the body of the joint rather than the cap to get the tension off it.
If you suspect it to be at all damaged just replace it. They are fairly inexpensive so it isn't worth the headache to install on the car and find out it is bad later.
If you suspect it to be at all damaged just replace it. They are fairly inexpensive so it isn't worth the headache to install on the car and find out it is bad later.
