Here's the deal:

I tore my driveshaft apart, literally. The front U-joint was about to break. I pulled the driveshaft and removed the U-joint. I am going to either find a replacement that fits from another car or else have a local shop to me make some. I am too cheap to buy a new one from Mazda (outrageous) and I don't think the Mazdatrix one is reasonable either (not-quite-as-outrageous), so I am going to figure out how to rebuild my original one for under $100.

My question for you guys is:

Which service would you prefer to have done?

 

Replaceable ones would be my choice but a junk yard drive shaft is key.

 

Well, I am 99% positive I will have U-joints available.

If I can't find another vehicle that used a driveshaft U-joint that small, my dad (mechanic for 30+ years) swore that he remembered some bigger trucks using U-joints that size (roughly) as steering knuckles. So, I should be able to find some and do a write-up on how-to-do it yourself.

C'mon people. Is it worth my time to show you how to do it or offer the service? LMK

 

No one wants to rebuild/have rebuilt their driveshaft? C'mon.

 

are the u-joints supposed to be replaceable? mine just died, and i called every car parts store within 100 miles looking for em, and noone listed anything....

 

I posted some driveshaft info a while ago, and someone found a place who makes lightweight replacement driveshafts for FCs, I'll search around for the info. Wish me luck

 

here is the thread with replacement driveshaft site, and my writeup on the specs of stock driveshafts (S4 FC)
https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...ght=driveshaft

here is the site for FC driveshafts, I didn't check for prices though
http://www.dennysdriveshaft.com/

 

I had the shaft done in my N/a, the joints are 'staked' which means the yokes have to be machined to accept a snapring style ujoint, any real driveshaft shop can do it, it cost me 185.00 Canadian or something like that with upgraded u joints, balancing and life time guarantee..Max

 

I will find some U-joints that the same size as the original.

Maxthe7man is right. The factory U-joints are staked in. All you have to do is place a large socket below the U-joint and take a punch held in a vice clamp and smash the living &#%^ out of it with a large hammer.

Repeat in the opposite direction to break the old one loose. This will also take care of the staked rim holding the factory one in.

 

I had my driveshaft rebuilt w/ replaceable u-joints for $120. One of the best services I ever had done. They harmonically balanced it and garunteed it for a while.

Just look for a driveshaft shop in your yellow pages. They are pretty common.

Matt Ford

 

What was the shop that you had yours done at for 120? because out here in east bumble.. .err.. never mind the location, out here, there's no listing for a driveshaft shop in my phone book.. Thanks for all the info, i'm glad i don't have to spend 250 for a new one from mazdatrix

 

It was a place called Oliver's driveshaft co. I'm in central NC, and there's a fair amount of trucking businesses, so they get their share of business.

I wish you were around when I was selling my driveshaft.

Where in PA do you live? I did a quick search and found 5 places near pittsburgh that do work like that.


Matt Ford

 

Hey audiofight Im in Grand Rapids Mich I got mine drive shaft done out here in Jenisen By a very good drive line shope for I think it was 80.00 they drilled out the old ujoints and put in new ones that were bigger and have grease fittings plus ballanced it . Pm me if ya want their address and number you can send yours to them or drive over.

 

i'm in central pa, ~ 3.5 hours from pittsburgh (which is a much greater distance without a good car!) i'll prolly have to put the rx on hold for a while now and start trying to fix the eclipse again.. damn cars...

 

Hey I hear ya. If worst comes to worst, you can garuntee that Mazdatrix will send you something worth your cash, even if it isn't the cheapest around. They do a pretty good business, and I have always ended up a happy customer. Sometimes that's the price you pay for solid customer service, especially if you aren't near a major market for rx7's.

Matt Ford

 

i wonder if i should give those guys listed above a call... the machine shops around here won't do it... i don't really want to pay 250 for a new one, but, as you said, i prolly don't have much choice out here where there's no such thing as rotory..

 

I found replacement U-joints like I said I would.

$40 + shipping for two new ones. It will take an hour or so, depending on your skill, to replace both of them.

Tools required:
[list=1][*]Large Socket (14mm or 7/8 should be close)[*]Large Hammer[*]Vise Clamp[*]Medium to large punch[*]Flat file[/list=1]

Instructions:
[list=1][*]Clamp punch to avoid smashing fingers. [*]Prop the U-joint caps on the socket[*]Place punch on the U-joint cap and smash the living (&*& out of it.[*]Flip and repeat until both caps are off and the U-joint is removed[*]Once old U-joint is removed, file the inner openings flat to remove all rust and debris that may hinder installation of new U-joint.[*]Place new U-joint in the openings and carefully pound the new caps onto the U-joint.[*]Insert clips and grease fitting[*]Grease up[*]Reinstall driveshaft[/list=1]

Make sure you mark the rear-end and the driveshaft so you can re-install it exactly like you took it out. Also mark the front yoke so it is also re-assembled exactly. This way, you won't need to re-balance the driveshaft unless it was out of balance in the first place.

 

that is really, really sweet where did you find the ujoints at?

 

I found them at a local shop. Some shops will stock and re-sell U-joints that only rebuilders have access to.

The shop near me marks the U-joint up and sells them at retail price, making profit. Why should they care who buys them as long as they make money?

I can get em, just email me.

 

Any driveshaft shop would be able to service you. Ask a mechanic for a recommendation. There's nothing specific about the rx-7's driveshaft that makes it any different to work on than a transport truck's

Matt Ford
XimbueX

 

there's no driveshaft shops, i've asked my two mechanics.. and the machine shop said they can't do anything for me unless i can get them the u-joints..

 

Wonko

I have U-joints.........

Email me if you need some.