LannyL81

95 half-shafts...the Spicer U joints will not fit in the spindle flanges.... They fit into the half-shaft themselves just fine...but will not fit into the flanges.

I have tried using a C clamp to compress the U joint, but just will not go.

Is this the wrong part number or something????

Do I need to put a torch to the flanges and then install the U joints???

C409

No Torch ..... did you have the caps off the u-joint ? Its very easy for a needle bearing to fall out of place in the cap and go vertical across the bottom and add that much to the dimension .

LannyL81

Nope, caps not off of these two...just the two that went into the half-shafts.

Measured the cap to cap distance....per spec...3.625"
Measured the flange tab to tab distance...3.617"

Even tried to put the old Ujoints back in...nope....seems that the flange shrank! And no there is no chance of compressing the flange removing the old Ujoints. The flange holds the Ujoint in the the two tabs and the straps.

I even tried a new out of the box Ujoint and it will not fit.

I had one heck of a time getting the U joints to separate from the flanges...I thought they were rusted in...but it seems more like they are put in with the flanges expanded or something.

I am stuck

LannyL81

Okay, got it....have to use a hammer to get the spindle flange to go onto the U joint. Have no idea how I am going to do this at the differential though........

Coupe89

Fit you dont heat them up.
Toss the U joints in the frezer

383vett

The ujoints are attached to the halfshafts that don't fit in most freezers. To the op, somehow you buggered up the seat in the spindle yoke. Did you use a hammer and screwdriver the separate the 2? You may have rounded the edge of the flange which will not allow the ujoint to seat properly.

LannyL81

I did have to use a screwdriver to get the U joint out of the differential flange, but no hammer. This could not have damaged the flange seats as the U joint was there to protect it. I leveraged against the U joint body and across the flange.

Like I stated above I got the U joint into the spindle flange by tapping on the spindle end....not real hard, just enough and then put the straps on...seem fine.
I have not tried fitting into the differential flange yet...hopefully it will fit as I have no way to tap it in.

samsonb

The 799 ujoints are for steel shafts. Could cause corrosion over time. I went with Bruteforce ujoints as they have the coated caps.

Charleston2012

Part number you used and where did you buy.

I would also put u joints in freezer for a little while to assist in installation.

samsonb

2-0617BF Neapco Bruteforce from Advance Auto Parts. That is for the half shaft.

Charleston2012

Thanks

samsonb

One thing I did that some may debate on. Is after I pressed the ujoint in the shaft. I noticed the ujoint was hard to rotate. So, I took a dull chisel and hammer. And lightly tapped the joint at the cross in the oppositive direction that I pressed it. I had to do it a few times to where the ujoint would freely rotate without feeling like it was binding anywhere.

I got that idea from some site showing how to press in ujoints.

LannyL81

Samething...new U joints are not as free moving as the old one were. I will have to try this. I was going to try to expand the flange in the halfshaft out a bit using a large bolt..but have not been able to do so. I think the halfshaft flange gets compressed just a bit by pressing the U joints out and new ones in. I probably should have put a spacer in there before removing.

I still have not tried to put the halfshafts back in the car yet. Going to be a challenge getting the Ujoints into the differential flanges...... Not this weekend....but next.

LannyL81

All done. U joints went into differential flanges with some effort..but not too bad. Replaced the "washers" while I had everything apart as well. Getting to the rear wheel bearings bolts was interesting...but do'able.

Good to have this job all done.

Charleston2012

Well, How does she drive? ANy clicks/clanks or other normal C4 noises?

LannyL81

Finally drove the 95 yesterday....no more clunk when taking off from a stop....and the car drives "tighter"....not sure how to explain it...it is just tighter. Could be the new U joints....could be the new washers.

One thing I did notice in putting in the Spicer U joints.....wow are those things ever tight. Could barely turn the end caps nor was it easy to pull the caps off to install. Spicer have a hard plastic retainer ring at the base of each cap whereas all the other ones I have done have a soft plastic almost rubber ring.

Job DONE!!

samsonb

That is the one problem with Spicers. Those plastic rings can crack.