What to do ? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Alaskan · 03-12-2003, 12:20 AM

Since the roads are good now I took a small road trip today. All was good untill I got up to about 70 mph and could feel a vibration. When I got home I checked the u-joints and carrier bearing and found two u-joints installed backwards but in good shape, but the pinion bearing has a lot of play. It's not leaking and it's topped off with lube but it has I would guess about 1/32 side to side play. I believe it's an HO72 but not 100% sure about that.

What should I do? Is this something I can fix myself and how? Or should I be looking for a new one?

72MARIO · 03-12-2003, 01:52 AM

I think thats kinda normal ...... go to a rear end shop and see what they can do. Are you sure it's not the wheels ? or drive shaft ?

1969 GMC · 03-12-2003, 02:43 AM

It looks like you have the HO-72 Eaton rear, it has a round centersection and it looks like yours does too, Dana had funny shape characteristic of most all light-duty Dana axles

**Canadian694x4** · 03-18-2003, 01:36 AM

Hey Alaskan, got any pics of your Trucks you could post?

Alaskan · 03-18-2003, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Canadian694x4
Hey Alaskan, got any pics of your Trucks you could post?

I've been meaning to make a photo album for my web page. Here you can see a pic of my 71 C20 and in the back ground my 68 GMC 4x4.

Jwill41 · 03-18-2003, 09:17 AM

excuse my ignorance, but how do you install a u-joint backward?

Long Knight · 03-18-2003, 11:53 AM

Dido on the U-joint backwards!??

Alaskan · 03-19-2003, 12:59 AM

Well I thought that would raise a few eyebrows. I'll attempt to explain.

The type of u-joint thats in my truck is like the one pictured below with the grease zerk in the same location. If you look you'll notice that the zerk is offset to one side and is pointing to the side that it's offset. Generaly when I install u-joints of this type I will orientate the zerk to face the driveshaft and not the yoke. I do this because if it faces the yoke there often times is not enough room to get a standard grease gun fitting on the zerk.

In short the zerk should be orientated to face the expansion of the joint and not away from it.

Alaskan · 03-19-2003, 01:01 AM

Forgot to add the pic.

miket · 03-19-2003, 01:16 AM

Hey Alaskan...

This is sort of off the subject of your post but...

I grew up there and had a few 67-72 trucks...in fact I had a 67 GMC short fleet side that was dark grey, lowered, with a 383 and posi. I sold it around 93 I think.....but on one of mys last trips to Anchorage, I stumbled onto it in Mountain View. It seems to be in reasonable condition...if i recall the metal and body were in very good condition...don't know now.

Thought you might be interested....its in a neighborhood near the carwash there in MV...it shouldn't be hard to find. If you are interested...I can probably get you an address. I don't know who owns it.

I attached a pic of it when I had it.

Cheers...

71 BIG RED · 03-19-2003, 01:45 AM

My 71 4x4 did the same thing, I rotated the tires and tried again the problem went away. I then took it down and had the tires balanced. I think it made a difference, that i had an unbalanced tire on the front.

Alaskan · 03-19-2003, 01:55 AM

The carwash is as far as I've been going in that area of town, been alot bad things happening there lately. The next time I go I'll look around for it.

As far as the play in the pinion and the vibration, the shops I've talked to locally have said the pinion play is not the problem. I got the wheels rebalanced with no change, one guy said a weak shock absorber could cause the vibration.

03-12-2003, 12:20 AM	#1
Alaskan Truck'n the alcan Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Houston, AK Posts: 149	What to do ? Since the roads are good now I took a small road trip today. All was good untill I got up to about 70 mph and could feel a vibration. When I got home I checked the u-joints and carrier bearing and found two u-joints installed backwards but in good shape, but the pinion bearing has a lot of play. It's not leaking and it's topped off with lube but it has I would guess about 1/32 side to side play. I believe it's an HO72 but not 100% sure about that. What should I do? Is this something I can fix myself and how? Or should I be looking for a new one? Attached Images __________________ 68 GMC 4x4 71 C20 Custom Deluxe 83 1/2 ton conversion van

03-12-2003, 01:52 AM	#2
72MARIO Registered User Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Huntsville Ontario Canada Posts: 4,052	I think thats kinda normal ...... go to a rear end shop and see what they can do. Are you sure it's not the wheels ? or drive shaft ? __________________ 1968 Suburban numbers matching all original truck now equipped with 6.0/4L80 on Accuair http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=625017 1967 C/20 6.0/4L80 Roofing Truck 1990 V2500 Suburban "Plow Truck" 2005 TAHOE DD

03-12-2003, 02:43 AM	#3
1969 GMC Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: The Rubber City Posts: 5,498	It looks like you have the HO-72 Eaton rear, it has a round centersection and it looks like yours does too, Dana had funny shape characteristic of most all light-duty Dana axles __________________ 1969 GMC K2500 1996 Honda Accord 2007 Kawasaki KLR 650

03-18-2003, 01:36 AM	#4
Canadian694x4 Born To Lose Club Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Calgary, Alberta/Oxenden, Ontario, Great White North Posts: 13,306	Hey Alaskan, got any pics of your Trucks you could post? __________________ Brian Smith - "Born To Lose" 1969 Chevrolet K10 LWB Fleetside - Proud Owner For 20 Yrs - 1 of 208 Built & Sold In Canada! - 283 V8/350TH/NP208, 2" All Spring Lift, 32" Good Year MT/R's. 1972 GMC K2500 Custom LWB Fleetside - Proud Owner For 2 Yrs - 1 of 571 Built & Sold In Canada! - 350 V8/SM465/NP205, 4” Rough Country Lift, 33” Interco TSL Thornbirds 2007.5 GMC Sierra SLE 2500HD 4x4 - Proud Owner For 15 Yrs - 6.6L V8 Duramax Diesel/Allison 1000, 2" Lift, 33" Mickey Thompson MTZ's. 2008 Yamaha Raptor 700r - Proud Owner For 13 Yrs - ITP Mud Lites. 2015 John Deere 1025R - Proud Owner For 6 Yrs - 24HP Diesel/H120/54D/260B/SB1154.

03-18-2003, 09:17 AM	#6
Jwill41 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Farmers Branch, Tx Posts: 1,009	excuse my ignorance, but how do you install a u-joint backward? __________________ http://www.picturetrail.com/jwill41 67 1/2 ton GMC short step side 68 1/2 ton Chevy long fleet side 72 1/2 ton Chevy Suburban 99 1/2 ton Chevy Suburban founder (and only member) of the primer/clearcoat club

03-18-2003, 11:53 AM	#7
Long Knight Spank 'em if you got 'em! Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Kansas City Posts: 628	Dido on the U-joint backwards!?? __________________ Long Knight '71 C-20, 350ci, TH350, Edl. 1406 Carb w/elec.choke, Ignitor ignition, Viper Tires, Orange Dipstick

03-19-2003, 12:59 AM	#8
Alaskan Truck'n the alcan Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Houston, AK Posts: 149	Well I thought that would raise a few eyebrows. I'll attempt to explain. The type of u-joint thats in my truck is like the one pictured below with the grease zerk in the same location. If you look you'll notice that the zerk is offset to one side and is pointing to the side that it's offset. Generaly when I install u-joints of this type I will orientate the zerk to face the driveshaft and not the yoke. I do this because if it faces the yoke there often times is not enough room to get a standard grease gun fitting on the zerk. In short the zerk should be orientated to face the expansion of the joint and not away from it. __________________ 68 GMC 4x4 71 C20 Custom Deluxe 83 1/2 ton conversion van Last edited by Alaskan; 03-19-2003 at 01:04 AM.

03-19-2003, 01:01 AM	#9
Alaskan Truck'n the alcan Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Houston, AK Posts: 149	Forgot to add the pic. Attached Images __________________ 68 GMC 4x4 71 C20 Custom Deluxe 83 1/2 ton conversion van

03-19-2003, 01:16 AM	#10
miket Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Seattle WA Posts: 1,466	Hey Alaskan... This is sort of off the subject of your post but... I grew up there and had a few 67-72 trucks...in fact I had a 67 GMC short fleet side that was dark grey, lowered, with a 383 and posi. I sold it around 93 I think.....but on one of mys last trips to Anchorage, I stumbled onto it in Mountain View. It seems to be in reasonable condition...if i recall the metal and body were in very good condition...don't know now. Thought you might be interested....its in a neighborhood near the carwash there in MV...it shouldn't be hard to find. If you are interested...I can probably get you an address. I don't know who owns it. I attached a pic of it when I had it. Cheers... Attached Images __________________ FocuzTech Performance Evergreen Protective Coatings Gatorhyde...the best kept secret in spray in bed lining & protection

03-19-2003, 01:45 AM	#11
71 BIG RED Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Elko,Nevada Posts: 22	My 71 4x4 did the same thing, I rotated the tires and tried again the problem went away. I then took it down and had the tires balanced. I think it made a difference, that i had an unbalanced tire on the front. __________________ big red 71

03-19-2003, 01:55 AM	#12
Alaskan Truck'n the alcan Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Houston, AK Posts: 149	The carwash is as far as I've been going in that area of town, been alot bad things happening there lately. The next time I go I'll look around for it. As far as the play in the pinion and the vibration, the shops I've talked to locally have said the pinion play is not the problem. I got the wheels rebalanced with no change, one guy said a weak shock absorber could cause the vibration. __________________ 68 GMC 4x4 71 C20 Custom Deluxe 83 1/2 ton conversion van Last edited by Alaskan; 03-19-2003 at 02:03 AM.

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