C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

86 u-joint broke

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Old Sep 16, 2010 | 10:47 AM
  #21  
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Originally Posted by joshwilson3
Because they are discontinued.
Might be discontinued, but you can still get them


http://www.dennysdriveshaft.com/p423...ebuild_ki.html
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Old Sep 16, 2010 | 04:23 PM
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Originally Posted by TA
Might be discontinued, but you can still get them


http://www.dennysdriveshaft.com/p423...ebuild_ki.html
Do those have the coated caps like the factory ujoints? As they don't really tell you what you are getting. They just list the series number. Spicer said they don't make the coated cap ujoints for the Corvette anymore. They want you to use ujoints that are for steel shafts.

Though, maybe it doesn't matter and the uncoated caps won't cause any problems.
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Old Sep 16, 2010 | 05:51 PM
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I will only use spicer and just coat caps with antisieze - no problems and they are stronger than other brands.
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Old Sep 16, 2010 | 06:13 PM
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Originally Posted by 85vet
I will only use spicer and just coat caps with antisieze - no problems and they are stronger than other brands.
Some say you are not supposed to grease the caps as that could cause the cap to spin in the shaft. I believe I read that Spicer says not to use any grease on the caps.
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Old Sep 16, 2010 | 09:42 PM
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Originally Posted by joshwilson3
Some say you are not supposed to grease the caps as that could cause the cap to spin in the shaft. I believe I read that Spicer says not to use any grease on the caps.
I am not using grease - I use a thin coat of antisieze. I have not had a problem in 5 years and I drag race almost every weekend. Just a little item I use since they no longer have the coated cups and I do need strong u-joints.
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Old Sep 16, 2010 | 09:52 PM
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Originally Posted by 85vet
I am not using grease - I use a thin coat of antisieze. I have not had a problem in 5 years and I drag race almost every weekend. Just a little item I use since they no longer have the coated cups and I do need strong u-joints.
Well, Spicer says not to use anything and to install it dry. Don't want a cap to spin. But as long as you don't have any problems is all that matters.
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Old Sep 16, 2010 | 10:39 PM
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finally got the tie rod end off and took out the half shaft. The strap that was holding the cap that came off seemed loose to me. I know I torqued them to the fsm spec which was 18 ft lbs. I did not use thread lock though, I used anti seize. Is this my rookie mistake. what do you guys suggest? Searching around, it looks like medium thread lock is what people have used. Should I take apart the other side and put the thread lock on. I am also worried about all my brake calipers, control arms, shocks. I have done everything to this car and did not use thread lock anywhere.where is this applicable and where do you differentiate between the red and blue which I guess is heavy and medium? now I am paranoid of everything coming loose on me. as far as the u-joint debate, it sounds like I should try and find the original spicer and not lube the caps but maybe a light coat of anti seize.
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Old Sep 16, 2010 | 11:23 PM
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Originally Posted by Elrick
finally got the tie rod end off and took out the half shaft. The strap that was holding the cap that came off seemed loose to me. I know I torqued them to the fsm spec which was 18 ft lbs. I did not use thread lock though, I used anti seize. Is this my rookie mistake. what do you guys suggest? Searching around, it looks like medium thread lock is what people have used. Should I take apart the other side and put the thread lock on. I am also worried about all my brake calipers, control arms, shocks. I have done everything to this car and did not use thread lock anywhere.where is this applicable and where do you differentiate between the red and blue which I guess is heavy and medium? now I am paranoid of everything coming loose on me. as far as the u-joint debate, it sounds like I should try and find the original spicer and not lube the caps but maybe a light coat of anti seize.
Antiseize was the wrong thing to put on those strap bolts. If you reuse the old strap bolts. Then you want to wire wheel the threads to remove the old drylock that is on there. Then put new blue thread lock and torque to spec. I think I torqued mine to 20 ft/lbs to be a little safer.

I'd pull the other strap bolts and redo them.

I put blue thread lock on my hub bolts, and caliper mounting bracket bolts.
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Old Sep 17, 2010 | 09:58 AM
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Originally Posted by joshwilson3
Antiseize was the wrong thing to put on those strap bolts. If you reuse the old strap bolts. Then you want to wire wheel the threads to remove the old drylock that is on there. Then put new blue thread lock and torque to spec. I think I torqued mine to 20 ft/lbs to be a little safer.

I'd pull the other strap bolts and redo them.

I put blue thread lock on my hub bolts, and caliper mounting bracket bolts.
Definitely use the blue thread lock on bolts.
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Old Sep 17, 2010 | 11:54 AM
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thanks for all the advice guys. Luckily my mistake is low cost and no injuries. I guess I have a lot of stuff to take apart again but better safe than sorry. Just to clarify how threadlocker works, the blue stuff is medium so if you need to take it off in the future, it will come off. The red really locks it on there but will you be able to get it off in the future?
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Old Sep 17, 2010 | 03:06 PM
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DO NOT USE RED - to release heat can be required.
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Old Sep 17, 2010 | 03:25 PM
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Originally Posted by 85vet
DO NOT USE RED - to release heat can be required.
thanks
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Old Sep 17, 2010 | 03:28 PM
  #33  
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I just got the new half shaft, recycled actually. I got it from contemporary corvette. It still had the original spicers in it. They seemed fine but the caps are all rusty. I am taking them out and putting in the new ones I got. thanks for ll the advice
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Old Sep 17, 2010 | 03:31 PM
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Originally Posted by Elrick
I just got the new half shaft, recycled actually. I got it from contemporary corvette. It still had the original spicers in it. They seemed fine but the caps are all rusty. I am taking them out and putting in the new ones I got. thanks for ll the advice
What ujoints did you get?
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Old Sep 17, 2010 | 04:00 PM
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Originally Posted by joshwilson3
What ujoints did you get?
precision federal mogul. It's the same one I had in there. I just think I didn't put it in right and it came loose. These were recommended by the guy at the local parts store. He builds old chevelles and vettes and he also said spicer was discontinued. I have not had a problem with the other side and I used these as well. I have to put some threadlock on those though
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Old Sep 17, 2010 | 04:41 PM
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Snap ring 101 almost all are stamped and there is a rounded edge and a sharp one. If so the sharp edge goes in the direction you want to resist from moving. In this case from the cups going out not in so sharp edges out for a u-joint. I have never seen yours and suspect every company might be different but something to keep on mind. Just a thought and easily overlooked.
Dave
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Old Sep 17, 2010 | 04:57 PM
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Originally Posted by ddahlgren
Snap ring 101 almost all are stamped and there is a rounded edge and a sharp one. If so the sharp edge goes in the direction you want to resist from moving. In this case from the cups going out not in so sharp edges out for a u-joint. I have never seen yours and suspect every company might be different but something to keep on mind. Just a thought and easily overlooked.
Dave
I just pressed them in and the snap rings don't seem to have a sharp or rounded edge. the edges seem to be the same. I think/hope I have them in right this time. I can see that they are seated in the groove so I don't know what more I can check. the u-joints swivel nice and easy with no resistance.. Thanks, I never knew this about snap rings though. I am using the ones that came with the ujoint
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To 86 u-joint broke

Old Sep 17, 2010 | 05:01 PM
  #38  
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last question, I hope. The ujoint has a flat side and a side with a little bubble sticking up. what is the orientation of this bubble? should it face the spindle yoke or the axle shaft? I wasn't smart enough to notice this prior to pressing out the old ujoints. The bubble does not seem like it will bind on anything either way it's installed. It may just be there from the casting or mold. I just want to do it all correctly this time. Does the ujoint have an inner and and outer side?
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Old Sep 17, 2010 | 08:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Elrick
last question, I hope. The ujoint has a flat side and a side with a little bubble sticking up. what is the orientation of this bubble? should it face the spindle yoke or the axle shaft? I wasn't smart enough to notice this prior to pressing out the old ujoints. The bubble does not seem like it will bind on anything either way it's installed. It may just be there from the casting or mold. I just want to do it all correctly this time. Does the ujoint have an inner and and outer side?
Shouldn't matter - it would only matter if there was a grease fitting.
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Old Sep 17, 2010 | 08:36 PM
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Elrick take a look at my post. the strap bolts being loose are the frist indication to me that the cap was riding over the shoulder on the yoke and not inside it. look hard at the shoulder on the yoke and see if it is shiny or deformed in anyway also look at the old caps and see if there is evidence that it was riding just on the shoulder.
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