Half Shaft U-Joint Replacement - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

564crewdog · 11-14-2014

Hey Everybody,
What's the level of difficulty and time required to swap out the U-Joints of the half shafts. The FSM guidance looks pretty straight forward...is a hydraulic press for a must for the caps?
Thanks!
Rich

-=Jeff=- · 11-14-2014

Yes the press will help.. however I have swapped them with sockets and a vise, just a but more time consuming than having a press..

Paul Workman · 11-14-2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by 564crewdog

Hey Everybody,
What's the level of difficulty and time required to swap out the U-Joints of the half shafts. The FSM guidance looks pretty straight forward...is a hydraulic press for a must for the caps?
Thanks!
Rich

I bought my Spicer U joints from a Drivelne shop and had them also install them and balance the drive shaft* while at it also. That said, I've used a big "C" clamp or a vise with a socket of appropriate size as well as a hammer and a large drift punch (of sorts) on occasion too. FWIW.

*The relatively LOW rpm of the half-shafts may exclude them from need of further balancing.

P.

mike100 · 11-14-2014

It takes more effort to get the half-shafts out of the car then it does to install the u-joint on a bench imo.

I have done two sets now and I have used sockets and hammers. I would have purchased a dedicated tool, but the aluminum yokes proved to be so easy to work with I have not bothered. It is absolutely imperative that you use the brand name Spicer u-joints or no guarantee that the new ones won't be a tight fit. Those $12 parts store imports will really need to be pounded in compared to genuine Spicer parts. believe me on this.

I also used 25 lb lead bricks I got surplus from a university to set the aluminum shafts on so they wouldn't get dinged up during the process. U can't really do this on a wooden work bench- you might have to get down on the garage floor (hence my soft lead bricks so I can do it on a bench).

FU · 11-14-2014

DANA SPICER 5-1350X or DANA SPICER 5-3615X on the half shafts.

564crewdog · 11-14-2014

Thank you all! Would you say this job is easy, takes ~5hrs?

Jagdpanzer · 11-14-2014

A good u-joint source I've used on several occasions:
http://www.dennysdriveshaft.com/c37_u_joints.html

XfireZ51 · 11-14-2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jagdpanzer

A good u-joint source I've used on several occasions:
http://www.dennysdriveshaft.com/c37_u_joints.html

Same here Phil. And to the OP, I used sockets and vise

nelson007 · 11-14-2014

Hello Phil,
I need to replace the half shafts in my 95. Would this be the ones that I need?
Thanks,
Nelson007

http://www.dennysdriveshaft.com/p423...ebuild_ki.html

Jagdpanzer · 11-14-2014

Nelson
That kit will do both half shafts and the drive shaft plus replace all bolts and straps. Its the one I always go with. That way you don't have to look back.

11-14-2014	#1
564crewdog Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Satellite Beach Posts: 33	Half Shaft U-Joint Replacement Hey Everybody, What's the level of difficulty and time required to swap out the U-Joints of the half shafts. The FSM guidance looks pretty straight forward...is a hydraulic press for a must for the caps? Thanks! Rich __________________ 1990 Corvette ZR-1 Polo Green #1648 1979 Trans Am SE Smokey & The Bandit Edition 1975 Porsche 911S (Sold) 1962 Lincoln Continental

11-14-2014	#2
-=Jeff=- Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bartlett, IL Posts: 7,171	Re: Half Shaft U-Joint Replacement Yes the press will help.. however I have swapped them with sockets and a vise, just a but more time consuming than having a press.. __________________ 1990 Corvette ZR-1 #1051 Watson Headers (2" Primary) - Flowmaster Cats - Borla Catback Late Model IH - Plenum Coilovers - 4.10s Custom Interior NCM Lifetime Member #978

11-14-2014	#4
mike100 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: San Marcos CA Posts: 1,802	Re: Half Shaft U-Joint Replacement It takes more effort to get the half-shafts out of the car then it does to install the u-joint on a bench imo. I have done two sets now and I have used sockets and hammers. I would have purchased a dedicated tool, but the aluminum yokes proved to be so easy to work with I have not bothered. It is absolutely imperative that you use the brand name Spicer u-joints or no guarantee that the new ones won't be a tight fit. Those $12 parts store imports will really need to be pounded in compared to genuine Spicer parts. believe me on this. I also used 25 lb lead bricks I got surplus from a university to set the aluminum shafts on so they wouldn't get dinged up during the process. U can't really do this on a wooden work bench- you might have to get down on the garage floor (hence my soft lead bricks so I can do it on a bench).

11-14-2014	#5
FU Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Found Member Posts: 4,346	Re: Half Shaft U-Joint Replacement DANA SPICER 5-1350X or DANA SPICER 5-3615X on the half shafts. __________________ Frank Urbo. NCM Lifetime member # 982 Registry Founding # 237 Last edited by FU; 11-14-2014 at 12:46 PM.

11-14-2014	#6
564crewdog Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Satellite Beach Posts: 33	Re: Half Shaft U-Joint Replacement Thank you all! Would you say this job is easy, takes ~5hrs? __________________ 1990 Corvette ZR-1 Polo Green #1648 1979 Trans Am SE Smokey & The Bandit Edition 1975 Porsche 911S (Sold) 1962 Lincoln Continental

11-14-2014	#7
Jagdpanzer Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Northern VA Posts: 2,662	Re: Half Shaft U-Joint Replacement A good u-joint source I've used on several occasions: http://www.dennysdriveshaft.com/c37_u_joints.html __________________ Phil Wasinger 1994 Torch Red ZR-1 WAZOO Member George Braml Intake

11-14-2014	#9
nelson007 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Westminster, Md. Posts: 436	Re: Half Shaft U-Joint Replacement Hello Phil, I need to replace the half shafts in my 95. Would this be the ones that I need? Thanks, Nelson007 http://www.dennysdriveshaft.com/p423...ebuild_ki.html __________________ WAZOO MEMBER 1993 #124 Ruby 1994 #??? Red/Black 1995 #061 Black/Red 2012 ZR1 Preproduction