Corvette Axleshaft U-Joint Replacement - Tightening Up Your Rearend

12 The preferred way to install the new u-joints is with the press used for disassembly. The trick with the press is to make sure the tool is sitting flat on the trunnion, and the cup is going in straight. If the cup quits moving, back off as the cup is cocked; if you try to go further, the trunnion will be bent.

13 Hold onto the clip while you're squeezing it to install it or it may knock out a tooth if it gets loose. Don't squeeze the retaining clip any more than necessary, or it will lose its spring retention and can come out. If we installed the cups correctly and the needle bearings stayed in place, the snap ring should go in place. If the snap ring doesn't go in, the trunnion is bent or a needle bearing has fallen out and is in the bottom of the cup.

14 We always make sure the snap ring is seated in the groove fully. If the clip won't go in with light force, you may want to take the joint apart and check the needle bearings for placement. If you try to hammer the cap with the biggest hammer in the toolbox, the needle bearings will be crushed.

15 We're using the dead blow hammer to free up the cups from assembly. The u-joint should rotate with minimal effort once the snap rings are in place. Give it a few whacks on one side, then roll the shaft over and give it a few more whacks. The dead-blow hammer won't distort the snap-ring groove but will seat the cups.

16 The vise is used to keep the cups in place while we pump some synthetic chassis grease into the new u-joints. Rotate the shaft on the joint to allow the grease to be dispersed throughout the joint. Grease should come out all four cups. If not, debris or a needle bearing may be obstructing the grease flow. Either way, make sure the grease flows out of all four cups even if the joint has to come apart.

17 It never hurts to torque the retention bolts to 75 lb-ft at the spindle flange. We always clean the threads at the flange to make sure the bolts are properly tightened. We're now ready to go for a testdrive, which is why we spent our Saturday afternoon under the shark after all.