half shaft U joints
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Joined: Feb 2006
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2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
half shaft U joints
I made a start on the HS U joints today. Things went pretty well. I got the driver's side HS and spindle out.
I removed the camber strut bolt as per instructions and the I wiggled and pried the arm until I could drop it down. That may have been a bit of over kill but the Knuckle ***'y didn't seem to want to move outboard at all due to the friction of the bushing.
When I do the other side I will drop the camber strut and tie rod and then just remove the inboard U joint strap bolts and < having already removed the spindle nut, I'll slide the complete unit out and work on it on the floor.
Hope this helps someone. Sorry I forgot to take to take my camera
I removed the camber strut bolt as per instructions and the I wiggled and pried the arm until I could drop it down. That may have been a bit of over kill but the Knuckle ***'y didn't seem to want to move outboard at all due to the friction of the bushing.
When I do the other side I will drop the camber strut and tie rod and then just remove the inboard U joint strap bolts and < having already removed the spindle nut, I'll slide the complete unit out and work on it on the floor.
Hope this helps someone. Sorry I forgot to take to take my camera
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 105
Likes: 15
From: Ball Ground Georgia
I recently did my halfshaft U-joints too. Instead of removing the camber bolt to get the lower strut loose, I unbolted the bracket where it attaches to the differential housing. This preserved the camber setting and was easy to do.
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2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
high rod
I looked at the possibility of what you did. It looked like kind of the easier way to go for sure.
I didn't do it 'cause the books didn't say anything about that option.
When I do the other side I'll use your method.
Thanks for the feed back.
I didn't do it 'cause the books didn't say anything about that option.
When I do the other side I'll use your method.
Thanks for the feed back.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,624
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From: Dale City VA
I also remove the spring and take the tie rods loose from the spindle/suspension upright.
IF you don't have a helper I just lay under it and use my legs to push the spindle/suspension upright to the outside to get the halfshaft out of the inner stub axle.
I go thru alot of U-Joints and halfshafts in my race car, so I'm pretty good at replacing these parts.
Will
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 105
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From: Ball Ground Georgia
The spindle (stub shaft) doesn't have to come out, but I like pulling it out with the halfshaft so I only have to deal with loose u-joint bearing caps on one end of the halfshaft at a time. Assembling the stub shaft to the halfshaft on the bench is easier for me, but either way works.
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Joined: Feb 2006
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2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
removing the spindle
I agree with Rod. It is MUCH easier to reassemble the outboard end of things if the whole unit is out of the hub.
Man if you drop a U joint cap full of nice clean, new, needle bearings trying to get things hooked up to the spindle yoke you will be a very unhappy camper!
Man if you drop a U joint cap full of nice clean, new, needle bearings trying to get things hooked up to the spindle yoke you will be a very unhappy camper!
