starcraft
10/13/2007 12:17:55 PM
Hey guys. I am looking to have my front drive shaft U-joints replaced next week (1999 disco2 with 123k). I ordered three percision 344 u-joints but as I understand I need a centering/seal kit or something like that to go with them. I cant seem to track this part down through any of my sources (online/advanced auto/local auto shops). Can someone please lead me in the right direction. I appreciate it.
Disco Mike
10/13/2007 2:12:12 PM
Then go to Car quest and get their 1-0005 joints and order their centering ball kit.
starcraft
10/14/2007 4:50:05 PM
This might be a dumb question but can you mix and match the parts? For instance can I put the Neapco ball kit from car quest in with the Precision 344 u-joints that I ordered?
jwfuller
10/15/2007 10:37:16 AM
Yes, you can. Did you find the centering ball kit? If not I can get you the Neapo part number. Are you doing the work yourself or are you getting someone to do it for you?
jwfuller
10/15/2007 11:42:04 AM
While we are on this subject, I would recommend if you haven't done a u-joint job before, or if you have never dismantled and re-assembled the double u-joint (Hookes joint) on the front shaft, you take your driveshaft to a pro. I took mine to a local machinist that does the work, the nearest drive shaft joint is an hour away.
I marked all of my parts so I'm not worried about disrupting the balance. I don't know if the added grease fittings on the Hookes joint u-joints are enough to throw off the balance or not, I asked him to offset them to avoid any issue.
I worked on it all Saturday, and it was a pain, even with a bearing press. The local auto craft shop doesn't even touch the Hookes joint, and once I had it apart I figured I wasn't either. The machinist is charging me 100 dollars for the work and the parts are about 75 from Federated, all precision parts. Except the centering kit, he couldn't find it, so I gave him the Neapo one I had. The craft shop claimed precision is better, so you will be doing well with that.
I wish I had just taken the shaft to him in the first place, because my Saturday is definitely worth more than a hundred bucks!
