GT6 Axle u-joint replacement

[Hoodat]

Good day all,
Back in '76 I replaced an axle u-joint in my GT6+ with rudimentary tools sitting in a friend's parking space. My memory is fuzzy, but it seems to me I didn't pull the hub and axle assembly out of the car. My question: can I remove the half shaft by unbolting the flange at the differential and the inside three fingers at the Rotoflex coupling and work the half shaft out that way?
Hoodat

 

[Andrew Mace]

I'm pretty sure you can do that, since I vaguely remember doing just that back in the '70s when I busted a u-joint and had to replace that inner shaft. Actually, getting it out isn't that difficult. Getting it back in is because the roto-flex coupling will expand somewhat, even though it's still being held by the outer axle shaft.

 

[Hoodat]

I'm pretty sure you can do that, since I vaguely remember doing just that back in the '70s when I busted a u-joint and had to replace that inner shaft. Actually, getting it out isn't that difficult. Getting it back in is because the roto-flex coupling will expand somewhat, even though it's still being held by the outer axle shaft.

Thanks, Andy. You tweaked my fuzzy memory with that about the Rotoflex coupling. I think I'll try putting a hose clamp around the coupling before I unbolt the half shaft from it. I'll let you know.

 

[Hoodat]

I finally got back in the (unheated) shop after a long, cold winter here.
The quick answer is Yes, you can remove the half-shaft without removing the hub. HOWEVER, I had to unbolt everything--spring, A-frame, leading arm, except the brake line to get it back together. On the other side, I gave in and pulled the hub and axle assembly. Much easier.
Hoodat