Dana/Spicer 1310 Pinion Yoke U-Joint Up & Down Movement Dilemma

[Bohemian]

82 K5 Blazer

1310 Series Pinion Yokes Front & Back using Spicer 5-153x U-Joints

With the strap clamps on the caps for the u-joints fully torqued, there is up & down play between the ends of the u-joint caps where they but up against the square bosses that they butt up against in pinion yoke races/bores...

There's not enough play to put a clip or clips in that came with the u-joints, and there is no area for the clips to ride in IF there was; like is in the drive shaft itself to hold the clips & u-joint caps in...

Are my pinion yokes worn out or?

Seems odd the only movement is between the two square bosses the u-joint caps butt up against; but nothing on the diameter of the u-joint caps.

Am I missing something obvious?

Any existing links & or videos, pictures would be most welcome, not having much luck so far with my searching.

thanks in advance.

 

[1-ton]

You could visually inspect the pinion yoke bosses for any galling that indicates excessive wear.

 

[ChrisPerry]

So with the straps torqued down your able to slide the u-joint caps back and forth? If so, it sounds like you may have the wrong u-joint. Measure the old u-joint cap diameter and end to end. I'm wondering if it may have been swapped out at one time.

 

[4X4HIGH]

Sounds like a bad yoke to me. Also you should always replace the straps and NEVER tighten more than 15 ft/lbs or you can damage the needle bearings in the caps.