I'm trying to replace the rear seal on my transmission. I've removed the four bolts holding the rear u-joint to the rear end. Tried to move the driveshaft in towarda the transmission to seperate it from the rear end, but I can't get it to break free. It just won't move.

 

i have had to use a large pry bar on a bunch of them, and on a few, i have had to heat the u-joint caps and hit them wd40 when they were hot

 

I've got one side of the u-joint loose already. But that's as far as I can get.

 

Used a rubber mallet on one of mine. Broke it free pretty easily. Good luck.

 

Well I finally got it out. Wasn't able to push it into the transmission yoke like planned. I had to wiggle the u joint free enough to slip the caps off the u-joint. Then I was able to get the driveshaft out. Now comes the fun of trying to put it back together. Looks like I'll have to take the c clip off of the cap to slide the cap back on the u-joint then try to get the clip back in place.

 

sounds like the yoke on the shaft is to long

 

It appears my u joints have c clip retainers on them to center up the drive shaft onto the rear end. I can't seem to get the clip back on the cap. It came out with them on, but I can't get enough room back there to get the driveshaft back in like it is. Wtf?

 

Aside from everything soundign wrong and messed up here, did any of the needle bearings fall out? Might have one stuck sideways on the bottom of the cap and it wont let you get the cclip back in

 

No needle bearings fell out. I'm curios if my driveshaft is too long. It measures 44 inches fron u-joint centerlines. Going into a TH350 short tail. But when pulling the driveshaft out I couldn't get much slack to push the yoke into the transmission. I don't need much room to get it back in, but there is almost no play in it as is. Maybe if I jack the rear end up, not the chassis as I have it now, I'll gain enough room to put it back in........maybe.

 

did you measure the yoke, and check it against the stock yoke of a th350 short tail, you may have a yoke for a long tail

i just saw this done to a 66 chevelle ss ... they just had to have the yoke cut off a bit, and have it reshaped on the end

 

I haven't checked the yoke yet. I'll try and find out what the difference is on em.

 

My next question would be, has anyone ever shortened the yoke instead of the driveshaft? I work in a machine shop so I'm wondering if that would be easier then shortenening the driveshaft.

 

Also remember to mark the orientation of your drive line to the differential yoke so you can put it back in the same way.

 

I found a shop locally that'll shorten it for $66. No new parts included. Should I go ahead and replace the u-joints while I'm at it?

 

before you have the yoke cut, make sure you have enough to be safely in the trans ... i have not seen how long it is, so could you tell me how much yoke is sticking out of the trans when it is all the way in ... also, does it slide out freely and then feel like it bottoms out when you put it back in?

 

It slides out freely. Maybe an inch of yoke sticking out when in the transmission. It does feel like it's bottoming out when put in.

 

you will have about that much sticking out after it is cut as well, but if it is going all the way in, you should have enough to get it cut without any troubles (but still talk more about it with the shop first) but i suspect it was close to bottoming out the yoke when the rear end was at its closest point

 

I'm gonna have the shaft itself shortened, not the yoke.

 

Dropped the driveshaft off at the shop today. Found out that some clown/PO had cut the slip yoke. Since its not flat on the end the guy in the shop told me he couldn't balance it. So guess who just bought a new slip yoke.......

 

You're better off then. I was wondering if it was a cut-down part-spline yoke.
Enjoy the new, serviceable, well-balanced parts.

 

Gonna pick up my driveshaft today. Only cost me $45 for a new slip yoke, and $87 to shorten and rebalance it. Money well spent!

 

A little late now, but the driveshaft for the 200 tranny fits perfect for a T350.