C2_half-shaft wear

[Steve D.]

[Joe L.]

Re: C2_half-shaft wear

Steve-----

The components of the half-shaft that you are describing are called "yokes". These are welded to the tube section to form the half-shaft or driveshaft assembly. Virtually no wear on the INNER surface of the yoke eyes (where the u-joint caps reside) is acceptable. However, I believe that the "wear" that you're referring to is on the OUTSIDE surface of the part. For whatever reason, these often appear "worn", but that's how they are brand new. It's just the characteristics of the particular forging dies used to manufacture them.

[Steve D.]

Re: C2_half-shaft wear

Joe

Thank you. I guess there was a different technique used for the main drive (propeller)shaft, since there is no similar thining on the drive shaft yokes.

Steve

[Joe L.]

Re: C2_half-shaft wear

Steve-----

Completely different forging dies were used for the driveshaft yokes than for the half-shaft yokes.

[Duke W.]

Re: C2_half-shaft wear

Consider that the halfshafts travel through considerably more angle than the prop shaft. The "wear" you are describing is either in the forging dies or may actually be from a machining operation to provide additional clearance so the joints won't ground out through their design range of travel.

The half shaft drive flanges on '63s actually do ground out against the yoke at full rebound, which is a design error. The end flange was redesigned later in production.

Duke

[Joe L.]

Re: C2_half-shaft wear

Duke------

Yes, the 1963 half shaft flanges were much "thicker" in cross section and they were manufactured of nodular cast iron. For the 1964 model year the flange was redesigned and was manufactured of forged steel with a "thinner" cross section. It's possible that this piece could have been used for late 1963, also. This piece was then used through 1974. In 1975, a new flange, also of forged steel construction, was introduced to PRODUCTION and it became the SERVICE piece for all 63 to 74 Corvettes, too. The latter part, manufactured by Dana-Spicer, is still available from GM.