Rear Axel Yoke threaded or not ?

[Wayne P.]

I took the half shafts off . They had retainer caps with bolts. Their are no threads in the rear axle yoke. My question is should I replace these caps with U Joint bolts ?.
I am replacing one Axel yoke ( Threaded or not threaded that is the question )

[John M.]

Re: Rear Axel Yoke threaded or not ?

Wayne, It should be a u bolt so it sounds like someone used what they could find, or it had an earlier life that involved more HP . The stock item is non-threaded with u-bolts.

[Wayne P.]

Re: Rear Axel Yoke threaded or not ?

Great thanks for the answer. I believe at one point the car had a big block in it.
I will order one from Wilcox

[John H.]

Re: Rear Axel Yoke threaded or not ?

I took the half shafts off . They had retainer caps with bolts. Their are no threads in the rear axle yoke. My question is should I replace these caps with U Joint bolts ?.
I am replacing one Axel yoke ( Threaded or not threaded that is the question )

Wayne -

If the yoke had bolted caps retaining the U-joint (instead of U-bolts and nuts) but had no threads in the yoke for the bolts, what held the caps in place?

[Joe L.]

Re: Rear Axel Yoke threaded or not ?

Wayne -

If the yoke had bolted caps retaining the U-joint (instead of U-bolts and nuts) but had no threads in the yoke for the bolts, what held the caps in place?

John------


I'm wondering exactly the same thing!

[Michael W.]

Re: Rear Axel Yoke threaded or not ?

Longer bolts with nuts on the far side?

[Gary R.]

Re: Rear Axel Yoke threaded or not ?

Is this the axle you had .190" measured from the face to the snap ring? If so was it soft?

Are you buying rebuilt Lone Star axles or new axles? The rebuilt axles have a hardened tip pressed in the end of the yoke. There is no center drill hole in them. The new ones have the center drilled hole and some I have found soft, others had the snap ring groove machined in the wrong place resulting in 040" + endplay.

The std axles used had clear holes for u-bolts. The "HD" axles used caps and bolts although every diff I checked over the years that was broken by abuse was never a result of a failed U-bolt axle.

[Wayne P.]

Re: Rear Axel Yoke threaded or not ?

Grade 8 bolts with lock washer and nuts. Regards

[Joe L.]

Re: Rear Axel Yoke threaded or not ?

Grade 8 bolts with lock washer and nuts. Regards

Wayne------


This is a totally bogus set-up. Among other things, the u-bolt type axles are not designed or machined to accept caps. In fact, they are different forgings. You're lucky you didn't have some serious problems associated with this.

[Wayne P.]

Re: Rear Axel Yoke threaded or not ?

That is what the car had. The caps fit fine. I am buying two new axles heavy duety drilled with caps. Thanks for all the info. I placed a repair sleeve over the companion flange . should help the oil leak. Thanks for the help

[Timothy B.]

Re: Rear Axel Yoke threaded or not ?

Wayne,

If by companion flange you mean pinion yoke, make sure you seal the splines in the yoke with some rtv or the leak path will be through the splines not the seal.

[Wayne P.]

Re: Rear Axel Yoke threaded or not ?

Timothy thanks for the info.
Yes I got the info from this site on using the sealer on the pinion yoke. When I took it apart their was no sealant on the splines. I hope the axel yokes that I am buying are ok. Will check snap ring distance to determine if the same as originals. First time buying from Wilcox corvettes. Should rec in the next couple days. W
hile the rear end is out is their any advice on painting it colour ? thanks

[Timothy B.]

Re: Rear Axel Yoke threaded or not ?

Wayne,

If it were mine, probably a spritz of cast blast and that's it. Pay attention to the rear crossmember mounts (big rubber bushings), and make sure these are in good usable condition.

[Wayne P.]

Re: Rear Axel Yoke threaded or not ?

I wanted to give a follow up. I placed a sleeve over the pinion yoke splines put the black rtv sealant over the splines enough to oozing out when the nut and washer were tightened down. I drove 5 or 6 times and it is leaking again. How did I notice this ? My wife asked me to clean her back windshield of her car > Yup grate to have a 4 poster. So I guess I have to start all over. Sweet while it lasted it gave me pleasure not to have a constant leak on the exhaust. Have a great day.