Help Please with half shafts
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 433
Likes: 1
From: St. George UT.
Help Please with half shafts
I just put a new transmission into my 2000 A4. Thanks to great write ups by Cajundude, Patches and others everything has gone very smoothly, at least until now. Following the write ups for disassemply, I have the upper control arm and shock disconnected as well as the e-brake bracket and caliper removed and am trying to reassemble the rear suspension. The axle shafts seem to go on all the way and the control arms can't go any further forward but I can't seem to get the axle shafts to "lock" onto the c-clips at the differential. During disassembly, the axles came free of the differential fairly easily with just a couple moderate tugs. Am I doing something wrong or could it be that the c-clips aren't doing their job and need to be replaced
Thanks in advance for your response.
Thanks in advance for your response.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,393
Likes: 17
From: Belleville Mich.
I'm assuming that you don't have the axle into the hub at this point.
I'd pull the 1/2 shaft out & look to see that the clip is still in the groove of the shaft coming out of the differential.
If the clip is still in position and firmly in the groove, clean, sand, wire brush and then spray a heavy coat of w/d 40 to the inside of the
1/2 shaft that goes into the diff. Wouldn't hurt to spray a little onto the shaft & clip coming out of the diff too.
Good luck.
I'd pull the 1/2 shaft out & look to see that the clip is still in the groove of the shaft coming out of the differential.
If the clip is still in position and firmly in the groove, clean, sand, wire brush and then spray a heavy coat of w/d 40 to the inside of the
1/2 shaft that goes into the diff. Wouldn't hurt to spray a little onto the shaft & clip coming out of the diff too.
Good luck.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 433
Likes: 1
From: St. George UT.
Thanks for your reply. I didn't remove the axle from the hub. I pulled the half shafts away from the differential by removing the upper control arm, shock bolts at the top, the caliper and e-brake bracket and pivoting the hub and rotor assembly away with the shaft in tack at the hub.
I checked the c-clip at the differential and put some gear oil on it. The spline is clean and the clip will rotate around the groove. I cleaned the inside of the half shaft end and put some oil there as well.
I checked the c-clip at the differential and put some gear oil on it. The spline is clean and the clip will rotate around the groove. I cleaned the inside of the half shaft end and put some oil there as well.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,393
Likes: 17
From: Belleville Mich.
Can you pull the a arm down enough to free the axle shaft from the hub?
If so, the 1/2 shaft should slide right in. Once into the diff , pull down on the arm untill the axle shaft slides back into the hub.
If so, the 1/2 shaft should slide right in. Once into the diff , pull down on the arm untill the axle shaft slides back into the hub.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,153
Likes: 892
From: South Western Ontario
You might have seperated the CV joint since you just pulled on the 1/2 shaft. The only thing holding the inner joint from pulling apart is the rubber boot.
I'd first do as suggested and take a look at the clip. Make sure the end is not sticking out and getting caught between the splines of the diff stub and the half shaft.
Then, take a look at it from under the car and see if the 1/2 shaft is going into the diff correctly and all the way. It may just require an extra push.
You should not have to seperate the shaft from the hub to get it together.
Peter
I'd first do as suggested and take a look at the clip. Make sure the end is not sticking out and getting caught between the splines of the diff stub and the half shaft.
Then, take a look at it from under the car and see if the 1/2 shaft is going into the diff correctly and all the way. It may just require an extra push.
You should not have to seperate the shaft from the hub to get it together.
Peter
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 433
Likes: 1
From: St. George UT.
I checked the c-clip and it appears to be as required. It seems like the half shaft is going all the way on at the differential. The differential side of the shaft butts up to the differential and the hub/rotor assembly appears to be in proper alignment. The upper control arm fits it's bolting area on the frame as intended. The shaft just doesn't lock on the spline as I thought it should. I thought the c-clip might be bad but find it odd that both sides do the same thing.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 433
Likes: 1
From: St. George UT.
You might have seperated the CV joint since you just pulled on the 1/2 shaft. The only thing holding the inner joint from pulling apart is the rubber boot.
I'd first do as suggested and take a look at the clip. Make sure the end is not sticking out and getting caught between the splines of the diff stub and the half shaft.
Then, take a look at it from under the car and see if the 1/2 shaft is going into the diff correctly and all the way. It may just require an extra push.
You should not have to seperate the shaft from the hub to get it together.
Peter
I'd first do as suggested and take a look at the clip. Make sure the end is not sticking out and getting caught between the splines of the diff stub and the half shaft.
Then, take a look at it from under the car and see if the 1/2 shaft is going into the diff correctly and all the way. It may just require an extra push.
You should not have to seperate the shaft from the hub to get it together.
Peter
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Corvette & Porsche 911: How Two Icons Conquered the Last 25 Years
Joe Kucinski
2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers
Joe Kucinski
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained
Joe Kucinski
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,393
Likes: 17
From: Belleville Mich.
You say that the 1/2 shaft boot is touching the diff.
By that you mean that the that the large diameter metal part of the 1/2 shaft is up against the diff. How is it possible that it could go on further than metal to metal?.
If that is the case, I believe your fine. Once all is bolted up, you should have about a 1/4" or so gap in that area.
I don't think that you pulled the joint out of place.
By that you mean that the that the large diameter metal part of the 1/2 shaft is up against the diff. How is it possible that it could go on further than metal to metal?.
If that is the case, I believe your fine. Once all is bolted up, you should have about a 1/4" or so gap in that area.
I don't think that you pulled the joint out of place.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 433
Likes: 1
From: St. George UT.
You say that the 1/2 shaft boot is touching the diff.
By that you mean that the that the large diameter metal part of the 1/2 shaft is up against the diff. How is it possible that it could go on further than metal to metal?.
If that is the case, I believe your fine. Once all is bolted up, you should have about a 1/4" or so gap in that area.
I don't think that you pulled the joint out of place.
By that you mean that the that the large diameter metal part of the 1/2 shaft is up against the diff. How is it possible that it could go on further than metal to metal?.
If that is the case, I believe your fine. Once all is bolted up, you should have about a 1/4" or so gap in that area.
I don't think that you pulled the joint out of place.
Thanks for your replys and assistance. I do appreciate it.
Happy Holidays
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,393
Likes: 17
From: Belleville Mich.
You should be able to pull the 1/2 shaft over & back off the clip, quite easily.
I have an extra diff out in the garage & I can take an old 1/2 shaft & it slides back & fourth quite easy.
I really don't think there is a problem.
For your peace of mind however, now would be the best time to change the clip out.
I would install the shaft first into the diff & then muscle the axle into the hub.
I have an extra diff out in the garage & I can take an old 1/2 shaft & it slides back & fourth quite easy.
I really don't think there is a problem.
For your peace of mind however, now would be the best time to change the clip out.
I would install the shaft first into the diff & then muscle the axle into the hub.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,367
Likes: 0
From: East Oakland CA
im having the same problem too. but after reading this thread it you DO need a bout 1/4" gap other wise you went in too far
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...nderneath.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...nderneath.html
