Bad driveshaft ujoint
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,759
Likes: 8
Bad driveshaft ujoint
I decided to check the ujoints on my 89. The PO just replaced the driver side half shaft joints for some reason.
I put it in neutral with the rear on jack stands and turned the wheels. I got a screeching sound from around the transmission. I looked and noticed the grease leaking out of the caps of the ujoint at the transmission. I think that ujoint has been bad for a long while now as last year I was under there. I saw slung grease and didn't know where it came from. Though my rear transmission seal has been leaking for a while, so at the time I thought it was from that.
What is the usual going rate at a shop to replace the driveshaft ujoints? It looks like a real pain as the exhaust has to be dropped. And probably the C beam as well. Though some say that doesn't have to be removed. I'd get that transmission seal replaced at that time as well.
I've got the receipt of when the PO had the driver side half shaft done. And that was $125 just in labor many years ago. So I'm betting this is gonna be expensive.
I'd probably be looking going with Neapco "Brute Force" 1-0626BF ujoints.
I put it in neutral with the rear on jack stands and turned the wheels. I got a screeching sound from around the transmission. I looked and noticed the grease leaking out of the caps of the ujoint at the transmission. I think that ujoint has been bad for a long while now as last year I was under there. I saw slung grease and didn't know where it came from. Though my rear transmission seal has been leaking for a while, so at the time I thought it was from that.
What is the usual going rate at a shop to replace the driveshaft ujoints? It looks like a real pain as the exhaust has to be dropped. And probably the C beam as well. Though some say that doesn't have to be removed. I'd get that transmission seal replaced at that time as well.
I've got the receipt of when the PO had the driver side half shaft done. And that was $125 just in labor many years ago. So I'm betting this is gonna be expensive.
I'd probably be looking going with Neapco "Brute Force" 1-0626BF ujoints.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,759
Likes: 8
The best price I got on the transmission output shaft seal was $107. But they want $50 a joint in labor to do the ujoints on the driveshaft. BS. I'm betting to press out/in two ujoints with the driveshaft already out should only take 20-30 minutes if you know what you are doing. Don't see why they would want to charge 2 or so hours for it. I called the dealer just to get prices. And they wanted $210 just in labor to press out/in two ujoints with the driveshaft already out. Haha, BS.
I think I'll call that $107 shop for the transmission seal. And see if I could drop it off on a Friday for them to replace the seal. Then I pick up the drive shaft and install 2 new ujoints over the weekend. Then drop the driveshaft off on the following Monday morning. I just don't see a point in paying $100 for 20 minutes of labor.
I think I'll call that $107 shop for the transmission seal. And see if I could drop it off on a Friday for them to replace the seal. Then I pick up the drive shaft and install 2 new ujoints over the weekend. Then drop the driveshaft off on the following Monday morning. I just don't see a point in paying $100 for 20 minutes of labor.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4,328
Likes: 15
From: Jacksonville FL
Jeez, Josh, it sounds like they are really wanting to soak ya on the R&R of the U joints. Most any repair or machine shop has a press and the last ones I had done were about $5 a piece but I brought the shaft to them with the new U joints. That was a repair/tire shop in my limited option BFE town. Keep shopping around and find someone who isnt trying to add Corvette tax to your work.
Good Luck!
Good Luck!
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,759
Likes: 8
Jeez, Josh, it sounds like they are really wanting to soak ya on the R&R of the U joints. Most any repair or machine shop has a press and the last ones I had done were about $5 a piece but I brought the shaft to them with the new U joints. That was a repair/tire shop in my limited option BFE town. Keep shopping around and find someone who isnt trying to add Corvette tax to your work.
Good Luck!
Good Luck!
I really couldn't believe it when the dealer told me $210 just in labor for 2 ujoints. I had just called them anyways to get a price just to see how much they would overcharge.
I think the best thing is to see if the shop will let me pick the driveshaft up and leave the car sitting there over the weekend. Then I put the ujoints in myself and bring the driveshaft back to them on the following Monday. I don't know if they would let me do that. I guess it depends if they have an extra rack they'd be willing to tie up. Though it may be something they couldn't get done in a day anyways if I also have them do the bushing as well. As I know when in neutral. When I turn the wheels, you can hear a screaching sound from the transmission. So, I'm guessing that is the bushing?
The cheapest I found on ujoint labor was $30 for both of them, but then that shop wants alot to do the shaft seal.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
If you were to do the job yourself, you would understand why it costs so much.
Plus if you spend as much time asking questions at the shop as you do here,
consider that they're trying to recover their losses.
Plus if you spend as much time asking questions at the shop as you do here,
consider that they're trying to recover their losses.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,759
Likes: 8
If driveshaft shops are willing to swap the joint out for $5 if you buy the joint from them, I don't see how that job could turn into a $50+ per joint job.
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Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,759
Likes: 8
How much per hour do shops normally charge for these kinds of jobs? I know the hour labor rate changes based on what is being done. I guess if it is something more complicated like a head gasket, they charge more per hour than something like replacing brake pads.
