Half Shaft ?

[FULLPWR]

Guys, I'm working on changing the u-joints in the half shafts right now.
I have one out and just removed the u-joints and was fixing to install the new ones when I noticed:

If you hold the shaft horizontally and tilt it one way or the other I hear a noise inside .... what is that ?????

could it be some sort of balancer ?????:confused:

help.............

Luis

[jonszr1]

luis it could be a welding flash that broke off . if it were me i might consider getting another half shaft . it doesnt take much to really mess up alluminum . what u jhoints are you using , hopefully they dont have zek fitting to grease them . if they do take them back and order the 799 series spicer u joints they are the strongest out there . dennys drive shafts has a u joint kit that contains the 799 series for every u joint including the drive shaft . you dont want to skimp on the u joints as if they break it can get pricey in a hurry. hope this helps .

[FULLPWR]

luis it could be a welding flash that broke off . if it were me i might consider getting another half shaft . it doesnt take much to really mess up alluminum . what u jhoints are you using , hopefully they dont have zek fitting to grease them . if they do take them back and order the 799 series spicer u joints they are the strongest out there . dennys drive shafts has a u joint kit that contains the 799 series for every u joint including the drive shaft . you dont want to skimp on the u joints as if they break it can get pricey in a hurry. hope this helps .


Neapco's no fittings. It feels heavier like theres another tube inside, more pronounced when I just shake it... kinda wobbles inside ..but not a metal clanking but a solid deep thumping wobble.
I did find one real bad u-joint on it that would make noise but this wobble i havent heard or couldnt hear on the road, it might not make any noise when its turning due to its deep sounding thumping noise when shaken by hand.

Im gonna take off the other side and see what its like.

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Are the Neapco's the Performance Dynamics series? If so, that is what I am using but have not tested them yet until I get this beast running again. I heard from the 4X4 community that they are strong; of course you can't go wrong with Spicer.

As for the clunk in the half shafts, yes I had the same on one of mine and would recommend you replace just to be safe even though I did not. Searching the "other" forum there was a lot of traffic about this issue in the C4 area and does not seem to be a concern. I guess the way that it rotates some feel that it would not affect anything.

[FULLPWR]

Are the Neapco's the Performance Dynamics series? If so, that is what I am using but have not tested them yet until I get this beast running again. I heard from the 4X4 community that they are strong; of course you can't go wrong with Spicer.

As for the clunk in the half shafts, yes I had the same on one of mine and would recommend you replace just to be safe even though I did not. Searching the "other" forum there was a lot of traffic about this issue in the C4 area and does not seem to be a concern. I guess the way that it rotates some feel that it would not affect anything.

yea the perfomance dyanmics #2-0799 just for the hell of it I weighed the spicer and the Neapco's are heavier in gross weight. I dudnt know about denny's but i feel good these will do fine, I like the seals better too.

Man...I just pulled the pass side and the exact same thing....:confused:

This is wierd.......I called Rick and shook em next to the phone and he is freaked as well.......:icon_scra

???

[FULLPWR]

maybe its money inside???:dancing
or crank ???
or it was a runner ???

wheres my sawsall ................

guess I need to replace em...
darn i wanted to finish it today

:confused:

[FULLPWR]

I did find some net info on vibration dampening some new patent on driveshafts ..but thats it, fsm doesnt give any detail, it does have a specific .062" approx hole in the center of the yoke as if to release air ....Wish i could get it on video you guys would thinks it definitely odd as he((.


I just shook the &%$# out of them and now i can hear a metal clunk, dam just broke em. lol
whatever it is its not little for sure.

[jonszr1]

you could use them for moraccas:p. sure is weird let us know what ya find out . i sure would think twice about using them on the car though .

[FULLPWR]

you could use them for moraccas:p. sure is weird let us know what ya find out . i sure would think twice about using them on the car though .

yea:-D nah Im not going to stick em back in, got to get some more, then open these up see what the.. in there.

[HAWAIIZR-1]

yea the perfomance dyanmics #2-0799 just for the hell of it I weighed the spicer and the Neapco's are heavier in gross weight. I dudnt know about denny's but i feel good these will do fine, I like the seals better too.

Man...I just pulled the pass side and the exact same thing....:confused:

This is wierd.......I called Rick and shook em next to the phone and he is freaked as well.......:icon_scra

???

Okay, great and those are the good ones with the alumigard for our aluminum shafts. I know there are differing opinions, but the same guys that broke some spicers on the 4X4 scene prefer the Neapcos and they put them though some hell so I thought I would try them.

I bought mine from KSC Direct and they had awesome prices:

http://kscdirect.com/search_results.php?cn=1006042&q=+NEAPCO+INC+

Tough call on the clunking and I did not find out until after I had them powdercoated so my main reason for just going with it. Had I not taken them off I would have never known.

Good luck and I hope it all works out.:cheers:

[FULLPWR]

To cut open the half shaft..and maybe save it for a re-weld someday...where would be the right place?
how far down from the weld ? or should it be as close to the weld as possible?

[tomtom72]

geeze louise I've never had 1/2 shafts out of a C4....the ones in my C3 didn't have anything rattling around inside them. I never seen a drive shaft or a half shaft with an inner liner either.

This doesn't make any sense to have anything loose inside a tube that rotates about it's long axis. Some one call Bill Boudreau.....or Corey Henderson or Marc Haibeck.

Luis, this is just one or both that have something floating around inside? If I were to even contemplate cutting them open with the idea of reusing them, I would grind the weld bead at the yoke flat as I could without hitting the tube or yoke shoulder. Then take a cut off wheel and try to slice the weld bead at the center line of the bead, slowly very slowly....I don't even know if that would work.:o

I've never seen any thing like this on a regular car.....to me this does not make sense to have something loose floating around inside the 1/2 shaft.:icon_scra

:cheers:
Tom

[FULLPWR]

yea its both of them.....I need to get two half shafts.
and yesterday since i'm kinda stuck on finishing the u-joint job, I went ahead and took off the rear calipers completely gonna rebuild them with the kits i got awhile back, the rotors look really great cant beleive it very little wear, was very suprised that when i disconnected he brake line at the frame ...only a drip of fluid came out. i was prepared with a pan and rubber plugs, but nothing.....maybe why rotors look so good dam things wern't engaging...well I'll make sure fluid pumps out real good before I put em back on...hopefully no further issues with that.:pray

now on the other third hand.. lol. driver side hub bearing drags..pretty sure its going to go next. so need to get one of those or both sides might as well. Rick said he'd hook me up with the ones he pulled out when he was having vibration/noise issue, but I think I want to put new ones in just to keep me from messing with that again anytime soon.
I checked corvette recycling but they dont have any more in stock.
I dont like those other cheapo's.

whats next ?!!?
not complaining at all...these new issues are probably the best thing to happen now.... before something locked up or fell off, then it would be a bigger deal

hell i think I'll go wax her.......jk
:wave:

[rhipsher]

Maybe you have the golden ticket to willie wanka's chocolate factory in one half shaft! And jimmy hoffas wallet in the other. just kidding man. I might come over today with the girls and check the half shaft out. I could take them to the shop and put them on the lathe and drill a hole right in the canter of the end and get whatever's in there out. Then tig weld an aluminum plug to fill in the hole. At least you will have a backup set. if you drill it with a hand drill it will look ugly and the drilled hole will not be perfectly in the center of the shaft which could cause them to be outta balance.

[tomtom72]

On the rear spindle bearings....guys that know way more than I do say go with the stock GM parts. Do them both and do not forget to replace the Teflon washers behind the spindle. p/n: 14076924...you need two. If you can't get them right away and that is going to hold up the job, let me know as I have them in my parts inventory.

On the brake fluid I'm gonna say that if you leave the lines uncovered & wait a while all the fluid will come out. I would not think something is wrong that a lot of fluid didn't come out when you opened the lines. I'm very sure on that. These cars don't do much with the rear brakes, so it is consistent that they look like almost unused. GM planed the front rear bias that way.

Hey, if you do the rebuild on the rear calipers, do a write up with some picts and send it in to be published in our newsletter, heck that would make a nice addition to the "How To" page. That would be sweet!:worship: I have kits for mine but chickened out mostly because they are working okay, even the parking brake works!......and I have no balls to take them apart!

Let Rick do his idea with the 1/2 shafts, and then if you can find a way to test the balance on them & if it's okay you could just throw them back in....save some cash, tu sabes, amigo?.......I know stick to English, I butcher it enough!:wave:

:cheers:
Tom

[SharkPilot]

A few months ago I replaced the u-joints in my half-shafts. Yes, I used spicers without the grease fittings. When they were off they felt very light and I didn't hear anything moving around inside.

It would be very interesting to hear about what you find in there.

Jim

[65ZR1]

I have cut both of my halfshafts to shorten them. What they have is a cardboard tube inside them. Just like the one in the center of a role of gift wrapping but much thicker. I believe its a noise damper to stop the half shaft from sounding like a wind chime tube. Im not sure but I thought it was a tight fit. So Im not sure why yours would be making noises. Hope this helps,

[tomtom72]

:handshak: Thanks, I just learned something new today!:thumbsup:

:cheers:
Tom

[FULLPWR]

I have cut both of my halfshafts to shorten them. What they have is a cardboard tube inside them. Just like the one in the center of a role of gift wrapping but much thicker. I believe its a noise damper to stop the half shaft from sounding like a wind chime tube. Im not sure but I thought it was a tight fit. So Im not sure why yours would be making noises. Hope this helps,

Wow, how thick do you think they were??
mine when shaken feels as if they are somewhat the length of the tube and best guess a 1/2" shorter or so the way it sounds when tilted end over end. they both sound identical to each other. Now I'm wondering if would be okay as they are if that is some thick cardboard inside...:confused:

[FULLPWR]

65ZR1 Your Right On !!! :thumbsup: :cheers:

I had left a message with a driveshaft guy yesterday and he just called me and said exactly what 65zr1 said, it is cardboard inside for sound dampening, very normal to move around, but not too much and suggested I bring them em in so he can ck the balance of them.

I will get back with results....... 65ZR1 is my new driveshaft guy :-D

[FULLPWR]

Took em to the driveshaft shop.

He said "sometimes that cardboard can swell and shrink depending on the enviroment there in and after looking over them really good he suggested not to pay him $75 bucks each to balance them, unless I felt like throwing money away, because they would be just fine like they are. He said its very rare for a aluminum half shaft to become out of balance without some brut force, irregular damage (wreck), heavy hp, and on the other hand steel shafts are not as flexible and tend to deform under extreme torque pressures." He said if they were steel he would recommend a balance. but mine look good.

I think I'm gonna stick em back in and see what happens.
I never heard any noise similiar to the cardboard noise when driving it.

[65ZR1]

Glad everything worked out well! I cant remember how thick the cardboard was, its been a few years since I shortened them.

[phrogs]

I found some good halfshafts if you need them, let me know but I think yours will be just fine!


johnny

[FULLPWR]

Thanks Johnny,

I should have them back in this weekend, and will see how they act.... Might be calling you....

:thumbsup:

[FULLPWR]

just want to make sure....
the bolts for the half shaft u-joints should be 25 ft lbs right???

I found the prop shaft specs to be 18 ft lbs


******I found it in the fsm.....26 ft lbs ***************
thanks though

[tomtom72]

According to my 90 FSM on a D44 the Trunnion strap bolt @ the Yoke T/Q is:
35 N/M or 26 lb/ft. that the 1/2 shaft universal joint straps.

The The Trunnion strap @ the Pinion is: 24 N/M or 17 Lbs/Ft. These specs I took from pg. 4B-31 Rear Axel.

In section 4A, Propeller Shaft and universal joints they list something different. On page 4A-8 for the pinion universal joint strap bolts they list 24 N/M or 18 Lbs/Ft.

There must be a miss print on page 4B-31 under the Trunnion strap @ the pinion, I think it should be 18 Lbs/Ft. instead of the 17 Lbs/Ft they have listed.

[FULLPWR]

thanks for looking Tom, i just went and sticky noted those pages you just posted. tha manual was is nice shape when i got it ..now looks like and old chilton.

I just got em torqued in. 26 click and one more saftey click drag.
everythings real tight under there..i like it. hope they dont rattle or whatever.....

[FULLPWR]

"On the Road Again"

runs GREAT,

no more popping noise in the back when power shifting, no more clicking from the rear & no more thumping when changing gears.

whats very very weird is i no longer have that vibration over 60mph, and I cant find anything odd with the cardboard issue in the shafts....:dontknow:

I cannot believe how much difference that one very bad u-joint, along with the other not so good ones makes.

feels real good & tight & solid when shifting hard.:dancing

I dont think I need those shafts Johnny, I highly appreciate you spend you time looking for them and offering :thumbsup: