What are you doing to your VX this week?

[Ldub]

Do you think that will be strong enough?

Even if it drops out... most, if not all of the steering function should remain...maybe...

[Marlin]

Problem would be that the failure would result in the assembly landing on the center drag link. You are putting a lot of stress on that one point, and since it isn't centered, that is a lot of leverage. I hope it works out for you, but it isn't how I would have done it for the strongest application.

[Ebenezr]

It was fast and relatively easy. I was driving for months, unknowingly with no nut on the bolt of the right frontmost bushing. It was supported by only 3 bolts. The whole pumpkin is not that heavy. I can easily lift it. As for it hitting the road yes my linkage would catch it........ and actually I think the crossmember under the rear of the differential would catch it first.

[Ldub]

It was supported by only 3 bolts. The whole pumpkin is not that heavy. I can easily lift it.

.torque might be another factor you may wish to examine.

[Triathlete]

Yep, torque will is the problem if it breaks it will do a ton of damage. Do a search of suspension link breakage...that will be the same type of damage done. Plus if you are at speed on the highway when it let's go it may not only be the vx that gets damaged. I would haves picked something a bit less critical to start welding with. At a minimum I'd have someone who knows welding check your weld joints.

[Mile High VX]

Installed in the front cladding...

[Marlin]

Wow, those fit perfectly.

[Ebenezr]

Nice grill. wish I could spend time on the exterior like that.

[Ebenezr]

OK. The dropped differential is done and in place and working. BUT I did this because I was peeved at the tripod style cv joint on the passenger side. When I order half shafts I get the 6 ball bearing type sent. So I started this project to convert and ordered a new full shaft with inner cup. Ha ha ha. So you know in order to get it on I had to seperate the joint from the cup and toss the half shaft aside-cause I will finish that joint this week. What did I find?.....a tripod joint! may I swear? (I didn't but like Curly said on the three Stooges -"I know all the woyds" Instead I did a Costello and started laughing only to end up crying.). Well, so my question to you experienced VX'rs is- what type of joint do you have on yours? esp the passenger side.? PS My body is racked with pain.

[Triathlete]

Are you replacing the entire shaft all the way to the punkin or just from the green cup outward?
If the latter and you are using your old cup the same part number as the drivers side. From the cup out they are the same.

[Marlin]

Hmmm, I have only seen one tripod CV on all the Zus I have torn apart, or watched get torn apart. Definitely not a stock part.

[Triathlete]

A lot of the aftermarket pass. side complete shafts are the tripod type including the Empi's (I have one sitting in my garage).

[Ebenezr]

I replaced the entire shaft and the green cup and it ended up being tripod. I guess that is ok...I will just replace with tripod halfshafts if needed. I ebayed the entire full shaft ,with green cup for 54$.

[Ebenezr]

You don't need all that for a diff drop...lol. For separating ball joints, just use a sledge hammer, whack em a few times, and they pop right out, I have done it literally dozens of times on my VX. All you need is a wrench set from Harbor Freight-15 bucks, jack stands and floor jack-40 bucks for the set or so, an extra bottle jack-9 bucks or so, I recommend an electric impact-50 bucks plus another 15 for the impact socket set, 3-5lb sledge-7 bucks, a 2x4-scrap piece-free, thats about it. Should be able to get it down in 2-3 hours tops. If you lived closer, I could help you out

Marlin How do you hit the joints in order to release them? do you broadside them? do you just hit the top joint or the bottom in order to slide a CV in.? Do you use a pickle fork separator?

[Marlin]

Marlin How do you hit the joints in order to release them? do you broadside them? do you just hit the top joint or the bottom in order to slide a CV in.? Do you use a pickle fork separator?

Just hit the housing the balljoint taper sits in. You really gotta whack it though. Sometimes it will take two or three smacks. The guys at the ZU meet showed me that. NO PICKLE FORK!! That thing destroys the boots on the ball joints.