Half Shaft ?

[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.

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.


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.

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

[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

[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]

Thanks, I just learned something new today!


Tom

[FULLPWR]

Originally Posted by 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,

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...

[FULLPWR]

65ZR1 Your Right On !!!

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