Some list members have been discussing what to do about their AE86
driveshaft problems. As they know, these cars (and most all post-1980
Toyota passenger cars) have non-replaceable U-joints, and when they wear
out, they cannot be easily fixed. My car has 233K miles and needed its
U-joints replaced in a bad way.
Someone - Doc Hess, I think - pointed out that some companies offer
U-joints that fit these driveshafts, assumedly with some
modification. However, I am a cheap, cheap man, and didn't want to take
the shaft down to the shop, have it worked on, pay through the nose for
three specialized joints plus the labor to modify and/or replace the shaft
and joints. I happened to have an aftermarket slip yoke sitting around,
since I had previously swapped a late T50 into a TE51. Late T50 cars all
had the later, non-serviceable joints, so I need a slip yoke that fit the
late transmission and accepted a standard Toyota car U-joint.
Cutting to the chase, I stopped by my trusty local old-car wreckers and
immediately found a driveshaft that fit the bill perfectly. It was marked
"76 Corolla 1600 automatic" in paint pen and was, at 45 inches
center-to-center, just the right length. Once fitted with my aftermarket
slip yoke, it fit the AE86 like it was made for it. Result: no more
carrier bearing, two less joints, and the ability to fix it at home, in the
driveway, or in any auto parts house parking lot, truck stop, or gas
station in the continental US...possibly also Canada. Yes, I am big on
field repairability, even for things that seldom fail.
Sorry for the ramble, but I was tickled to find an easy solution and
thought I'd better share, lest Karma get me and the next solution not be so
easy!
Aaron Willis
Garage TE51 International: http://te51.freeyellow.com
ICQ # 27386985
AOL IM: hemiyota
Yahoo! Pager: te51levin
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Have you visited http://www.cyberauto.com and downloaded the shopping
list for your Toyota lately? If not, you're missing out on some great
new products! Just released: TWM Short Shifters for all 90-02
Celica's, the 97-02 Corolla, and the 00-02 MR-Spyder. Check it out!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
