Overhauled my drive shaft - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

rick0312 · 03-10-2008, 10:17 AM

Read farside847 tech post on how to overhaul a drive shaft. Very helpful! thanks farside847! Went pretty smooth except that NAPA sold me the wrong front U-joint(need to exchange for correct one). All new U-joints, carrier bearing and a bit of rust encapsulator The ball joint press really made things easy....Rick

mcc-bri · 03-10-2008, 11:04 AM

you might want to reinforce that bearing carrier, they are a lot weaker then the originals and break (so i am told) without reinforcing them.

You should weld all the way around the seam on the top where it mounts to the frame, the two peices are only spot welded. Then you should take some band iron and weld it from the side of the mount, down and around the bearing housing part and up the other side. The guy who told me this hasnt broken one since he rienforced it.

Ill try to get a pic of mine up so you can get a better idea of what im talking about.

**truckdude239** · 03-10-2008, 06:10 PM

i installed a carrier in my drive shaft and it came from orielys it lasted 4 months before breaking got another one from advance lasted 3 months advance gave me another one i took the shields off this time and its been fine since

matthufham · 03-10-2008, 07:00 PM

i had to weld mine from oreily's, then that melted the rubber a little, and now the driveshaft drags on the rubber. i need to fix that

rick0312 · 03-10-2008, 08:44 PM

I am running a stock 260hp/350. does more h/p put more stress on the center bearing?

rick0312 · 03-11-2008, 01:43 AM

the front U-joint is way too big. I am running a 4 speed saginaw car tranny. Is the front U-joint the same size as the center and rear? I assume the joint NAPA gave me is for a truck tranny yoke.

mcc-bri · 03-11-2008, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matthufham

i had to weld mine from oreily's, then that melted the rubber a little, and now the driveshaft drags on the rubber. i need to fix that

Incase you didnt know you can push that rubber peice out that holds the bearing.

rick0312 · 03-11-2008, 02:21 AM

Yea I know that the bearings come off, even with them off I couldn't get the U-joint in.

Longhorn Man · 03-11-2008, 03:47 AM

HP doesn't effect the bearing if everything is lined up properly.
I would take that to a drive shaft place and have them spin it, a mild off ballance condition may go unoticed, but could damage things like the rear diff and the brass bushing in the tailshaft of the tranny.

03-10-2008, 10:17 AM	#1
rick0312 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Warrington, PA Posts: 403	Overhauled my drive shaft Read farside847 tech post on how to overhaul a drive shaft. Very helpful! thanks farside847! Went pretty smooth except that NAPA sold me the wrong front U-joint(need to exchange for correct one). All new U-joints, carrier bearing and a bit of rust encapsulator The ball joint press really made things easy....Rick Attached Images

03-10-2008, 11:04 AM	#2
mcc-bri Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba Posts: 186	Re: Overhauled my drive shaft you might want to reinforce that bearing carrier, they are a lot weaker then the originals and break (so i am told) without reinforcing them. You should weld all the way around the seam on the top where it mounts to the frame, the two peices are only spot welded. Then you should take some band iron and weld it from the side of the mount, down and around the bearing housing part and up the other side. The guy who told me this hasnt broken one since he rienforced it. Ill try to get a pic of mine up so you can get a better idea of what im talking about.

03-10-2008, 06:10 PM	#3
truckdude239 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Lewisville, Nc Posts: 10,238	Re: Overhauled my drive shaft i installed a carrier in my drive shaft and it came from orielys it lasted 4 months before breaking got another one from advance lasted 3 months advance gave me another one i took the shields off this time and its been fine since __________________ David fuller Ase Certified Mechanic Click here to help support our board!! 1971 Chevy c-10 under going a 4.8l LSx swap Build Thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=421305 2007 Honda Accord my daily 145kmiles 2002 Honda Accord 4 door With 330k(sisters car) 2005 toyota Avalon 228k( brothers car) 2002 Sububran 5.3 245k 2000 Tahoe 5.3l 378 General manager for Marco's Carwash & lube

03-10-2008, 07:00 PM	#4
matthufham Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Carl Junction, Missouri Posts: 2,061	Re: Overhauled my drive shaft i had to weld mine from oreily's, then that melted the rubber a little, and now the driveshaft drags on the rubber. i need to fix that

03-10-2008, 08:44 PM	#5
rick0312 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Warrington, PA Posts: 403	Re: Overhauled my drive shaft I am running a stock 260hp/350. does more h/p put more stress on the center bearing?

03-11-2008, 01:43 AM	#6
rick0312 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Warrington, PA Posts: 403	Re: Overhauled my drive shaft the front U-joint is way too big. I am running a 4 speed saginaw car tranny. Is the front U-joint the same size as the center and rear? I assume the joint NAPA gave me is for a truck tranny yoke.

03-11-2008, 02:21 AM	#8
rick0312 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Warrington, PA Posts: 403	Re: Overhauled my drive shaft Yea I know that the bearings come off, even with them off I couldn't get the U-joint in. Last edited by rick0312; 03-11-2008 at 02:21 AM.

03-11-2008, 03:47 AM	#9
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Re: Overhauled my drive shaft HP doesn't effect the bearing if everything is lined up properly. I would take that to a drive shaft place and have them spin it, a mild off ballance condition may go unoticed, but could damage things like the rear diff and the brass bushing in the tailshaft of the tranny.



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