U joints?

[celeryman22]

Hi, I just went to the GM dealer to get new u joints for my 1980 corvette. I was under the inpression that the half shaft were the same but different then the driveshaft. When I went to the dealer he showed me the book and all 6 ujoints are the same. Can anyone confirm this? Automatic transmission...

Thanks,
Mike

 

[photovette]

I changed the u-joints on my '77 (TH350) yesterday; the drive shaft u-joints are different from the 1/2 shafts.

The 1/2 shafts were a bit of a pain to remove, but the drive shaft came out easy and slick as could be.

 

[celeryman22]

I got mine out no problem, that is just weird that the book at GM would say they are the same. When I look at all the suppliers the ujoints are different like you said.

I changed the u-joints on my '77 (TH350) yesterday; the drive shaft u-joints are different from the 1/2 shafts.

The 1/2 shafts were a bit of a pain to remove, but the drive shaft came out easy and slick as could be.

 

[jdp6000]

Take it out and take a look at it. I have an 82. what the book said and what I have are two different things.

Jim

 

[celeryman22]

The problem is I took them out months ago, blasted and painted the shaft. I was just going to order u-joints from the web, but I was at he dealer today and thought what the hell. I'm thinking Im just going to take the shafts to them and let them put the u-joints in. That way they can mess it up not me.

Take it out and take a look at it. I have an 82. what the book said and what I have are two different things.

Jim

 

[dfw81shark]

My '81 TH350 driveshaft and halfshafts are different sizes. I also think the manual and automatic ujoints are even different from each other.

 

[celeryman22]

Thats what I've seen on the web. I think I'm going to cancel my order.

Thanks Guys

My '81 TH350 driveshaft and halfshafts are different sizes. I also think the manual and automatic ujoints are even different from each other.

 

[norvalwilhelm]

Most U joints are the same. I stock a typical cheap one and it fits my vet drive shaft, my mustang, my ford truck but I think the 1/2 shafts were a different size.
I am not a fan a pressed in u joints and anyone not familiar with doing 1/2 shafts will bend the outer flange. It needs a support if you insist on pressing it out.
This is how I do U joints and I don't have any problems.
I cut the old ujoint out with a torch, I cut out the cross in the joint.
I then take the air chissel and walk the old caps out, the heat loosened them.
I then take a flapper wheel in a drill or my case the die grinder and polish lightly the yokes.
I clean the groove carefully.
I hold the shaft in the vise, lube the yoke really well and just with light taps from a brass hammer walk the cap in.
Most of my yokes use only very light pressure to install, finger or light brass hammer.
I believe pressing caps in and out of yokes distort them, causing out of round and premature failure.
I have proven the superiority of universals installed this way over press fit but don't want to go into it here.
This is a good way to install universals.