How long do side yokes last?

[macx]

Just got my "new" 81 - new to the world of Vette's. Been reading up, understand that diff side yokes wear relatively quickly because of the side loading (besides everything else in the shafts & hubs!)

Mine has 65k original, if the play specs out alright, how long are they likely to last with pretty much normal driving?

While I'm at it - same question for the
wheel spindle assemblies?

Thanks!

 

[Roy]

Rear End Wear

One reason they wear out is the exhaust pipes cross directly underneath the differential housing and serves to heat the differential. Over time, this "cooking" of the differential housing causes the oil to loose viscosity and often boil out of the vent hole. Eventually, the end of the spindles (that connect to the yokes) and the hardware that holds them in place begin to wear resulting in excessive lateral wheel movement. Have you ever felt your rear end drift in curves and wonder what might be causing it?

The best way to combat this situation is to change rear differential fluid every 10,000 miles. You can also re-route your exhaust pipes so they are not directly under the differential. There is a small metal shield that is supposed to restrict heat transfer to the differential, but any C3 Corvette with 80,000+ miles on it probably has damage to the differential spindle ends and related hardware.

There is a simple test to determine if your rear end has been damaged. Grab the top and bottom of rear wheel and "rock" the wheel back and forth. If you hear a knocking sound and the wheel moves 5/16" or so in and out at the top - your spindles and hardware are worn. Near spindles et al installed runs about $1,300.

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

I'm not sure that exhaust heat contributes to deterioration of the differential or side yolks. Side pipe cars wear out their yokes as fast as anybody else.

I think it's safe to say that if your yokes are not heavily worn by now, you're probably good to 100K miles. I've got way over that on mine and they're still in spec.

Wheel bearings are a different story. Wear on these follows a different pattern in that they tend to deteriorate more randomly and more rapidly. Damage caused by a failed wheel bearing is much more dramatic than a worn yoke.

Wouldn't hurt to have everything inspected, just for piece of mind.