Absolute drive shaft u-joint nightmare!!!

[kacrow76]

Ok so i am needing to replace the u joints on the half shafts. witch ones do i buy nissan has them 76.00 each or 16.00 at advance for the brute force ones? i thought i read here some where that some of the aftermarket ones don't fit right. i have the shaft out and think i will take it somewhere and have them pressed out and the new ones put in. i tried a little last night and had no luck tapping them out.so just need to know witch ones to buy.

[Mike W]

I used Spicer brand U-joints when I replaced mine. Sourced them from a local truck drive line shop. Can't recall exactly but I believe they were around $35 - $40 each. Also had this same shop balance my drive shaft after they were installed.

The part numbers for the half shafts are 5-1505x and I believe this should be the same for all 240, 260, and 280z models.

The driveshaft part numbers are 5-1501x but these were for a very late model 260z and early 280z. I believe that the 240's and early 260's used a different part but I don't have the correct Spicer number. In fact I seem to recall reading that the u joints on the late 260 and early 280 were not replaceable, but I had no issue replacing the original ones with the new ones from Spicer.

Very happy with the change and so far no issues at all. Incidentally these all came with zerk fittings and I had no clearance problems with either the half shafts or the drive shaft.

As far has tools were concerned I used a combination of the harbor freight u joint tool as well as my large bench vise. You just need to be careful not to let the needle bearings fall as you install them. Also make sure you remove the retaining clip before trying to remove the old u joint from the yoke.

Hope this helps.

Mike.

[cbuczesk]

Moog is good. Rockauto and NAPA might carry Moog. I think I used Brute Force on a set for my race car and they're still holding up.

Chuck

[John Coffey]

Maybe checking u-joint articulation while the driveshaft was out of the car... You should be able to get to the zirc using a 1/4" drive deep socket of the correct size.