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 ?????

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]

Originally Posted by 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 .

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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....

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

???

[FULLPWR]

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

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

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

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Originally Posted by FULLPWR

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....

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

???

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....&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.

[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! 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!


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