Half Shaft Clocking

[Ed D.]

I just received my rebuilt trailing arms, which have no reference to original half shaft clocking. I noticed after attaching the half shafts that I can now turn the wheels, with the wheel off the ground. Before the wheels would bind on the half shafts. Is there a proper orientation that should followed for installing the half shafts to the trailing arms?

[David H.]

Re: Half Shaft Clocking

... I noticed after attaching the half shafts that I can now turn the wheels, with the wheel off the ground. Before the wheels would bind on the half shafts.

Ed

Did you change your shocks as well?

Dave

[Ed D.]

Re: Half Shaft Clocking

No, still the original shocks
Ed

[Harry S.]

Re: Half Shaft Clocking

Ed, this is what we did on my 63. I'm sure others will comment.

DSCF4033.JPG

[Ed D.]

Re: Half Shaft Clocking

Thanks Harry, did you follow any particular relationship on the universals orientation from left to right side. The assembly manual does not indicate any mention of how they should be installed.
Ed

[Harry S.]

Re: Half Shaft Clocking

Thanks Harry, did you follow any particular relationship on the universals orientation from left to right side. The assembly manual does not indicate any mention of how they should be installed.
Ed

No, but I have seen them 180 degrees out.

[Joel A.]

Re: Half Shaft Clocking

The shafts will turn independently on turns anyway, so it doesn't really matter if they are lined up("clocked") on assembly. Even lined up, they will no longer be lined up after you make your first turn, so...put them any way ya want.

[Larry M.]

Re: Half Shaft Clocking

The shafts will turn independently on turns anyway, so it doesn't really matter if they are lined up("clocked") on assembly. Even lined up, they will no longer be lined up after you make your first turn, so...put them any way ya want.

Agree............

Larry

[Ed D.]

Re: Half Shaft Clocking

Thanks guys, I should have put some more thought into this and figured it out myself.
Ed

[Duke W.]

Re: Half Shaft Clocking

I noticed after attaching the half shafts that I can now turn the wheels, with the wheel off the ground. Before the wheels would bind on the half shafts. Is there a proper orientation that should followed for installing the half shafts to the trailing arms?

You didn't say what model year you have, but U-joint grounding can be a problem on '63 models due to the thick section of the cast iron outboard yokes. Rebound is limited by shock travel and some replacement shocks may be too long. The two later forged designs have thinner sections and more grounding clearance.

It's not clear to me from your post, but I interpreted what you said that U-joint grounding was an issue before you removed the halfshafts, but not after reinstalling them. If so I can't explain it.A

s others have said halfshaft clocking is not an issue since it won't last past the first sharp turn.

Questions should always be accompanied by the model year because there were many changes over the model years many of which are not visually obvious.

Duke