Need some HELP asap. Blew a u-joint and I'm stuck in a little town.

[Rizzo]

Hey guys. Was having a great cruise today and then BAMN. Ugliest noise I've ever heard. The driveline was hammering away under the car. Pulled over fast and had to have the car towed back to Canmore.... Thanks GOD for CAA. It would have been a $700.00 tow job. We were 60 miles back in the mountains. Anyway we got it to a garage and got it on the hoist and had a look. The back drivers side u joint let go and the drive axle was banging away in the suspension. It doesnt look to have done any damage other than scraping up a few of the pieces. Of course the car is in Canmore at a local garage and they are not open until Tuesday. I live 600 miles away and was supposed to go home on Monday. Does anyone know if the u joint is a common Dodge part where all dealerships will have it or is it a Viper only part that will have to ordered and take forever to get here. All the dealerships are closed now until Tuesday. If I can get a u joint for it first thing Tuesday morning I will stay and get it fixed and head home. Anybody know what the part number is and how common it is? Any help would be appreciated. The car is a 98 GTS. Also. Is there anything else I should be looking for when something like this happens? I was probably doing about 120 kph (75 mph ) when it let go so it was banging around under there for a few seconds.

Thanks guys.

Sean

 

[Joseph Dell]

The U-joint is a common truck part. Nearly any truck shop that sells Spicer U-joints can get it for you. And most truck shops do. try that first... good luck, and sorry to hear about your misfortune!

 

[1TONY1]

My Unitrax shafts use a Spicer part # 5-799X

I'm not sure if it's the same but for sure the cup sizes are the same on the wheel and diff ends. This may be a heavier duty one than stock...as in Spicer may have another one that will also work. If they don't have this part # they may can look up the cup size and other dimensions to find one the matches. I get mine at a truck driveline/parts house. I would also check NAPA.

 

[2000_Black_RT10]

Canadian Tire should have something to get you back on the road since they are open on Sundays.. note that a u-joint with a grease fitting is weaker then one without, but if it fits and gets you home this weekend, that's all that matters..

Edit.. just realized your car is stuck in their garage until Tuesday.. a Spicer 5-799X joint is what you need as 1TONY1 suggested..

 

[RedEnuf93]

These are from Advance Auto:



Universal Joint
For vehicle: 1998 DODGE VIPER V10 8.0 Liter


Part No.20053 Neapco Universal Joint Standard;Rear Shaft ALL Positions; DIAGRAM 96 LOCATION 1,2;Use U-Bolt 1-0099;Use Strap 1-0019 (w/ 0.75 bolt length);Use Strap 1-0020 (w/ 1.31 bolt length)Ships in 1 day$10.88




Part No.20053 Neapco Universal Joint Ships in 1 day
$10.88


Part No.20052 Neapco U Joint$29.88




Part No.20052 Neapco U Joint Ships in 1 day
$29.88




Part No.20053BF Neapco U-joint Brute Force$15.94





Part No.20053BF Neapco U-joint Brute Force

Hope this helps, these are plain common parts, you should be able to find them in any car parts store....



Here's the Spicer:

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http://www.actionmachineinc.com/images/products/detail/5799Xcomp.jpg​

Price: $22.98

Part Number: 5-799X
Manufacturer: Spicer



http://www.actionmachineinc.com/email-a-friend.aspx?product=9

 

[2000_Black_RT10]

That's good work RedEnuf93 , only problem is that he's in Canada, can add another week or so on top of those shipping dates only available within the US.. but the part numbers should surely help!

 

[RedEnuf93]

That's good work RedEnuf93 , only problem is that he's in Canada, can add another week or so on top of those shipping dates only available within the US.. but the part numbers should surely help!

I know he is in Canada, thats why I put in all parts numbers.
This way they can cross reference the parts and manufactures.
I cannot belive that Canada would not have these parts IN STOCK at every parts store, these are the same parts for pick-up's, trucks, Corvettes, etc. its just a plain 10 dollar u-joint.

With that one he can get out of the woods and find a better quality u-joint later, such as Spicer.

I can even FedEx overnight one for him, if needed. or the whole halfshaft!

 

[Kmrumedy]

It's not Canada that is the issue, it that he is in Canmore which is a small tourist town for people hiking in Banff and Lake Louise. It's beautiful but not a lot there unless you want hotels or restaurants.

There's a lot of Calgary VCA members near there. Maybe one of the local members can chime in.

 

[Rizzo]

WOW. Thanks for all the help guys. I was hoping it was a common part. I am going to make some calls today and see if there is any parts stores open in Cochrane and maybe blast in there and grab the parts so that they are here first thing Tuesday morning and if all goes well I can be on the road in a couple hours. I cant imagine its a big job to replace the u joint. The biggest problem will be that one of the bolts that holds the little loops sheared off inside the hole so we will have to either tap it out or see if we can use an easy out to get it. I am staying at a buddy's place here so I can borrow a vehicle so its no problem getting around. Again thanks for the help guys. PS. Woke up to 3 inches of snow on the ground up here this morning. It looks awesome but I cant believe its snowing in August.

 

[Rizzo]

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Here is what I woke up to this morning in Canmore. Yikes August 31 and snow on the ground

 

[Rizzo]

Hey guys. I found a NAPA in Calgary with the ujoint but they only carry Neapco ujoints. Are the Neapco ujoints as good as the Spicer or should I find somewhere with a Spicer? Thanks for all the help.

 

[RedEnuf93]

Hey guys. I found a NAPA in Calgary with the ujoint but they only carry Neapco ujoints. Are the Neapco ujoints as good as the Spicer or should I find somewhere with a Spicer? Thanks for all the help.

I had Neapco Brute force in my Vette and was not able to destroy it. (and I drove it like it was neighbors pig....)
I have Spicers for now.

What matters is to get home, for that either one is good. Just get the Neapco and when youre home you can change it if it is not to your liking.... Get the straps and bolts too, bolts have locktite on them and the straps will form with the ujoint.

I hope you get out of the woods soon!

To replace them is easy, maybe 1 hour job for one side.

 

[2000_Black_RT10]

It's not Canada that is the issue, it that he is in Canmore which is a small tourist town for people hiking in Banff and Lake Louise. It's beautiful but not a lot there unless you want hotels or restaurants.

It is nice, good snow picture, that's funny to see this time of year.. We stayed at a cabin just outside of Canmore years ago.. used to go into town for food etc.. up the road was the the Banff park gates..

You must be registered for see images

Cochrane looks like the place to go, they even have a Crappy Tire too (as a last resort.. to get you back on the road)..

Good luck..

 

[Warfang]

slightly off topic... but since it's such a cheap part and can cause a major headache when failed.. would it be a good idea to replace it every couple of years just for good measure?

 

[Tom Sessions]

Rizzo to make it easier to remove the sheared off bolt use some heat on the yolk around the bolt to release the lock tite.With a left handed drill bit the bolt should back right out.

 

[RACR77]

Hey RIzzo, I could pick up the U Joint in Cochrane and deliver to you in Canmore tomorrow.

 

[Rizzo]

Hey RIzzo, I could pick up the U Joint in Cochrane and deliver to you in Canmore tomorrow.

Hey. Thanks for the offer. We are going in to Calgary today anyway with some friends so I will pick up the parts there and have them here for first thing tomorrow morning. Hopefully I will be on the road by noon if all goes well. I really appreciate the offer though.

Sean

 

[Rizzo]

Hey guys. Thanks for all the help. Got the car fixed this morning and drove home with no problems. The car worked great. They relaced the outer u joint as well as the inner as it was starting to wear so I got it done while everything was apart.

 

[RACR77]

Hey Sean, great to hear you made it home with no more problems.

 

[Dom426h]

slightly off topic... but since it's such a cheap part and can cause a major headache when failed.. would it be a good idea to replace it every couple of years just for good measure?

+1 ????????

 

[Warfang]

+1 ????????

+2... oh wait. That was my post.

 

[Rizzo]

The total bill was $350.00 including the U joints, strap kits and labor and tax. That was to replace both left side ujoints and they had to get the sheared off bolts out too which took a while. I was pretty happy considering what could have happened. If you had a hoist I would think it would be pretty cheap maintenance every few years.