I was told that the u-joint on a 87 base model can not be replaced by its self, and that the whole drive shaft would have to be replaced. I just want to know can I just replace the u-joint so I don't have to spend a couple hundred on a whole new drive shaft. I know that mazdatrix only sells aftermarket u-joints that only fit their aftermarket driveshafts. But advance auto parts sell the u-joint but I don't want to buy the part and have the car in the air and find out that I can't remove the factory u-joint. plus I had other work that I had to do and i wanted to do it all at once. Please help and thanks

 

no, the u-joints canNOT be replaced on the stock driveshaft. you can get a 87 n/a driveshaft for like $20 used and in good condition. I actually got one from a friend for free that would in excellent condition. do some searching and you can find a good one for cheap.

 

the u joint should be replacable

 

Yes, the factory design is that the U-joints are not replaceable.

There are a couple people who have bent the horse shoe joints enough to replace the U-joint in it, but I am unware of how that worked in the long term.

 

why??? The car was designed to last 100-120K miles... Normal usage in that time would not wear out a U joint.

 

These guys have a replacement.

http://www.rockforddriveline.com/Sho...s_Mazda_07.asp

You have to grind off the burr that holds the old ones.
A Dremmel works good for that.
They have instructions.

I used a bench vise to press out the old joints.

 

You beat me to it. I replaced my u-joints from them. I didnt have to grind anything though. I took a junk socket that was a little smaller than the u-joint cap and started pounding the socket with a hammer. Came out easy enough and put the new one in. There are a couple of steps in between but it was pretty basic.

 

Rockford driveline Part number 430-10A. You need two. it will cost around $55 bux with shipping

Both the previous posters techniques for changing will work.......I suggest the drimmel tecnique. Grind it smooth so the new ones go in smoothly.

On the west coast there is Arizona Driveline that has the same part number for the same price.

Why can't we get ONE of the u-joint threads as a sticky or in the faq or in the archives.

Of the 28 things that go wrong on an FC this one would be top 10.

 

you mean I only got 7000-27000 more miles left???

 

already in the archive... just nobody reads it

Ah yeah right... maybe #121 of the 1000 of things that can go wrong

U-joint failure is pretty damm rare

 

I went to a local catco shop and had a replacable u-joints installed .

 

the u-joint acually works fine its the damn squeaking thats bothering me. Yeah they probably do last a long time but my diff mount broke a while back and I drove on it while waiting for the new one which took like 5 weeks. I tool it easy most of the times but I found myself racing against pr!cks in hondas and doing the occasional drift so it was my fault. But I'll probably just go buy the whole drive shaft, Mazdatrix has a new aluminum one and u can change out the u-joint. THanks for all of your help.

 

So we went through the excersize for naught. Thanks for playing.

 

the rockforddriveline.com place doesn't make u-joints for turbo models?

 

who said that??

 

i just asked, i the link says it doesn't work for turbo models

Part # 430-10a "All except RX-7 w/ turbo"
Part # 430-11 "RX-7 w/o turbo"

errr?

is the 2nd one supposed to be with turbo?

 

Not sure......but they have all sizes. you just need to ask the guy........he is extremely friendly and helpful

 

The dealer told me the same thing and so did several other folks. I wound up taking my driveshaft down to a local drive shaft shop. As soon as I walked through the door the guy was like oh you've those "un-replaceable" u-joints. No problem! He had the new u-joints ordered and installed in 2 days. The cool part is the new U-joints had grease zerks on them. If you go to a good quality drive shaft shop they should be able to do it no problem. BTW, I think it was $105. I can't remember how much a new "propeller shaft" was but I want to say it was like 400 bucks!!!! I like my fix much better!!!!!

 

My '87 base model, required a full drive shaft change. I replaced it with the unit from Mazdatrix... nice & easy.

 

"Propellor Shaft" I saw that too.....funny as ****!