Replacing half shafts

[Gary P.]

How are the repo half shafts and drive shafts, any problems with them.

[Edward J.]

Re: Replacing half shafts

Gary, I would recommendation that you try and restore the originals, if they are, they are likely are smooth running and with out driveline vibrations. I have restored a couple of set and with some hard work you can make them look good. once you start sanding out the rust the texture changes form the original look, but there are no original cars that still have the original look, there are some dry climate cars that may have a light surface rust.The repro shafts I have seen a turned appearance.

[Richard G.]

Re: Replacing half shafts

He is a picture of a restored and un-restored half shaft.



To make is easier I polished the steel part of the driveshafts on my lathe.
I used a yolk on one side and a manufactured holder one the other so I could retain it with the tail stock.
This made the polishing, with emery, much easier. However it can be done by hand.
The yolks were finished with a powered wire brush.
I then painted the shafts with satin clear. I was careful not to get any clear inside the yolk bores.
Getting the u-joints installed is easy enough.
However my bet is 80% are installed either with bent yolks or they bend them in the installation process.
It helps to have a U-joint bridge. Kent Moore makes a nice one but new it is $50. You could fab one easily enough.

With this tool you can push on the trunions and not on the outside cap.
This keeps the forces on the one cap that is supported, or should be.

One of my half shafts had a dent in the tubing where someone had put it in a vise and hammered on the joint. If this was the drive shaft I would have replaced it but it was one of the half shafts so I installed it with the dent. Another reason to use a arbor or hydraulic press not a hammer!
Rick