Month: October 2015
The Damages.
Here’s a picture of the end of the shaft, and the u-joint at the differential. The end of the shaft that used to be connected to the u-joint is torn up on one side and shows some rust. The second picture shows the u-joint still in the yoke at the transfer case. You can see a spot of bright metal where the u-joint was sheared. Some damage to the output yoke on the transfer case. Not bad, but getting another one.
Took the shaft to Clinard’s Driveshaft Shop in Nashville. $137 to have the shaft weld yoke end cut off and a new one welded back on. All new Dana Spicer yoke and u-joint.
Lucky I wasn’t up in Kentucky when this happened. Looks like it was gonna happen sooner or later, ennyhoo.
No grease fitting on the u-joint. Friction anyone? The bright spot on the yoke is molten metal from the u-joint. Essentially welded the u-joint clamp to the yoke. Chisel time. My buddy Tony eventually got the clamp to slide out enough to get the new u-joint in with judicious tapping.
Still got this end…
Um, somebody welded a patch on here.
Shore the u-joint arm off pretty good. Wheels still turn, so, hoping there’s nothing wrong with the differential.
Repaired shaft:
Clinard’s cut off the old weld yoke and replaced it with a Dana Spicer 2-28-307 yoke and 5-153x u-joint. Looks like I’ll be pulling off the front driveshaft and gettin’ this done to that one as well. Compare to the one that broke above.
Sunday, October 25th. Shake down cruise.
Took the dog on a short country loop on Friday. Saturday, drove into town for wiper blades and supplies.
Sunday, figured to take the road up the hill into Westmoreland and then on to Lafayette for breakfast. Didn’t quite make it. Coming over the top of the climb into Westmoreland from Bethpage, experienced loud grinding sound from underneath. Then something let go, sounded like I drove over the muffleras or a small metal trashcan. Total loss of power.
As I coasted into the Hardee’s parking lot, I could see the rear drive shaft laying in the middle of the road. Not good. Coasted mostly into a parking spot and went back for the drive shaft. Too hot to pick up, so I just kicked it to the side of the road and called for a tow.
Grabbed it when it cooled down and got towed to the house. Taking it over to Clinard’s now to have a new end put on it. Looks straight. Universal joint still on the rear xfer case. Looks like I lost a couple things at the transmission side. Still goes into front wheel drive in 4by mode, but “Park” doesn’t lock up. Looks like all new u-joints for me.
Oh well, almost made it 100 miles!
Here’s to hoping it’s just a U-Joint, the old one doesn’t look like it ever met the grease gun.
Thursday, Oct. 22nd Blazer Chalet at home.
Picked up the Chalet in White Bluff this morning. Drove it home, passed emissions. Registered!
blazerchalet1751 