Replacement half shafts?

YELOSNK

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As part of refreshing the rear end I need to replace the half shafts. All I can find at my normal online shops are the expensive upgraded ones for high $$s, which I don't need for a bolt-ons-only car. Has anyone used the ones off rock auto? They seem suspiciously cheap but I otherwise have no reason to doubt them. Brands are FVP, Trakmotive, and GSP.
 

01yellercobra

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Someone on here ordered those. They were way wrong. Maybe a local driveshaft shop can rebuild your stockers.
 

YELOSNK

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Someone on here ordered those. They were way wrong. Maybe a local driveshaft shop can rebuild your stockers.

Bummer. Do you happen to recall what was off on the ones the guy ordered? I looked up the GSP one (NCV11193) and on the GSP website it says they're specifically for the '01 and '03-'04 Cobras*.

I'm not sure about rebuilding mine. The issue is they are pretty rusted, especially the threaded portion coming through the hub. Maybe I'll just have to bite the bullet and get a good condition used set off ebay. Really prefer not dropping ~$800, though.

*although amusingly it also seems to say it's for the Mach 1.
 
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01yellercobra

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I don't remember the part numbers. But they definitely weren't for the 03/04. I think they were almost an inch short too.

Unless chunks are missing I wouldn't worry about the rust. Every set I've seen has surface rust and the threads all look rusty. You can clean them off and paint them if you want. If the boots are still in good shape and everything it still smooth I wouldn't worry about them right now.
 

shurur

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I don't remember the part numbers. But they definitely weren't for the 03/04. I think they were almost an inch short too.

Unless chunks are missing I wouldn't worry about the rust. Every set I've seen has surface rust and the threads all look rusty. You can clean them off and paint them if you want. If the boots are still in good shape and everything it still smooth I wouldn't worry about them right now.
Yup. Agreed.
The rust is nothing.
It's only a problem when the boots are ripped over a prolonged period.

I am sticking to my 28 spline half shafts and will replace them with 28 spline in the future. I am never going to push them anywhere near what they can't handle and have a detroit TT, so I am not interested in replacing the whole shebang.

I should check my boots more often..

Honestly if there is nothing wrong with the half shafts, the only refresh needed is the boots.

On my audi, all I did was to remove the outer joint end of shafts and slide both boots on that one end. I just greased the crap out of the entire shaft.
 
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Blkkbgt

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Bummer. Do you happen to recall what was off on the ones the guy ordered? I looked up the GSP one (NCV11193) and on the GSP website it says they're specifically for the '01 and '03-'04 Cobras*.

I'm not sure about rebuilding mine. The issue is they are pretty rusted, especially the threaded portion coming through the hub. Maybe I'll just have to bite the bullet and get a good condition used set off ebay. Really prefer not dropping ~$800, though.

*although amusingly it also seems to say it's for the Mach 1.
That was me.

I've ordered those shafts and made a thread about them. They are total trash. Here is the link to my thread.

 
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52merc

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Here is what my cleaned up half-shafts looked like before I re-installed them.
Halfshafts Recon LR.jpg
 

YELOSNK

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thanks all. Bummer on the aftermarkets, but the price did have me very suspicious. My main concern is the exposed threaded portion coming through the hub. I haven't tried cleaning it up, but it looks pretty hit. Then again, I don't have much experience with this kinda thing.

In hindsight I really wish i had tried painting them early on, but not much i can do about that now.

halfshaftClose.jpg
 

01yellercobra

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I'd spend some time with a wire wheel cleaning it up. The nut still looks decent despite the rust. It might just need a coat of paint.
 

shurur

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White vinegar soaked rag wrapped around it overnight may also help break the rust and then just removing the nut will let you see how the threads look. Removing the nut may be enough to clean up the shaft threads.

I would get a new nut though.

I grease exposed metal like that with green grease or mobil synthetic after threading it just to protect the threads from rusting.
 
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YELOSNK

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Thanks for the ideas! I'll give it a shot and see what they look like. Definitely new nuts if I take these off.
 
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Blkkbgt

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thanks all. Bummer on the aftermarkets, but the price did have me very suspicious. My main concern is the exposed threaded portion coming through the hub. I haven't tried cleaning it up, but it looks pretty hit. Then again, I don't have much experience with this kinda thing.

In hindsight I really wish i had tried painting them early on, but not much i can do about that now.

View attachment 1773000
Be prepared to replace both your hubs and knuckle bearings.

I went into my IRS thinking I had an issue with the passenger side outboard half shaft boot.

The plan was to replace the boot and clean/paint the shafts with por 15.

Once I got everything apart I realized my bearings and hubs on both sides were toast.

All I am saying is be prepared for it to be much worse than you think it is.
 

shurur

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Soaking white vinegar rag overnight.
Wire brush, hand or drill.
Liquid wrench overnight. (Liquid wrench has the smallest molecule)
Then try breaker bar or impact wrench.

Again..the nut may clean up your threads for you.
 

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