Huge 4-wheel drive problems Front drive shaft

[tai6mai9shu]

I have a 84 gmc, i was replacing the u-joints in the front drive shaft and i got the two by the transfer case out and the new ones put back in and then i went to put the one at the end of the drive shaft in and i put the center peice in and then i slid the caps on andthey went right in with no hammer no nothing, and the u-joint that both the parts stores gave me had outside snap rings. well thats all fine and dandy with the part of the u-joint that is mounted into the knuckle type thing on the front pumpkin cause that doesnt need the clips and has two little ears that hold the caps on, so then i go to put the outside snap rings on the u-joint that is actually on the shaft and they sit flush with no room for the caps. so i went back to the parts store and told them i need the universal with the inside snap rings and they say that they dont make one? so i have no idea what im going to do for a front u-joint for the front of the front drive shaft?????????? everyone at the parts store says that someone must have placed a different front yoke on the shaft cause the u-joints are not matching up, wondering if the stock yoke spines will match up so maybe i can put the stock front yoke back on it and then place the right u joint in there. any way i can find out how many splines the front yoke for the front drive shaft has?
Thanks any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[special-K]

Try another parts store.

[chevyman06]

I had the same problem. The parts store guys are cracked. I went into one of the local stores and had them get me the u joints for a 77 full time driveshaft and they asked me some of the specs and stuff and he came back and said here theses should fit and he said they are greaseable. Well I got home and took them outa the box and the dumb things were made for a pto shaft on farm equipment. they were an 1/8thinch too small in dieameter and there was no way you could grease that thing with the zerk in the center of it as I recall. I went back an hour later with the 3 u joints and I asked for my money back and I told them what the problem was. Sad part was that wasn't the first time they have screwed up for me. I asked for my money back and they tried to get me the right parts but i said no. So I went accross the highway to there competition and got 3 exact, the parts guy had the numbers memorized even. I paid maybe 1 buck more than originally but I hate stupid or ignorant people and I figured an extra dollor for correct parts the first time is cheaper than a trip back to town from the boondocks. If at all possible take your drive shaft to the store with you and get the right parts. I assume you have done these u joints before, but just in case you haven't watch them needles those bearings are a paint to pull apart if you get a needle out. just my .02 cents.