Hi Guys I'm in need of a little info in regards to the rear driveshaft u joint and securing it.. My truck just recently experienced the transfer case C clip failure, I got the upgraded saver kit and decided to replace the ujoints for the rear driveshaft while I had it out.
I ordered Spicer 5-811X joints and they seemingly were correct and fit everywhere except in the rear diff yoke. I cannot insert the C clips and get the ujoint into the yoke. SO I removed the clips and just secured the ujoint with the new strap kit.. My question are C clips required and or supposed to in place at the rear end? My truck is a 1997 Ram 1500 4X4 Ext. Cab.. Thank you

 

Does the yoke have the little nubs that trap the u-joint caps in?

 

I did not notice any nubs or stops on the yoke, and could not get the ujoint to seat into the yoke with the clips in place, so I just put it back together with the straps securing the driveshaft to yoke. Im pretty sure the ujionts are correct series as they fit in every other regard.

 

The nubs would be on the yoke, not the strap. Some pictures please.

 

The strap side(diff) should have the nubs so no clips needed there but the yoke side(driveshaft) needs the clips. If you pressed or beat the caps on sometimes the yoke can bent a slight bit and you wont have enough clearance. Use sockets to press on the caps and support the yoke in a vice Then use a brass punch and see if you can get the yoke to spring back out enough for clearance. You should have measured the u joint with caps seated where the clips are then measure the yoke just to be sure they will fit.

 

ill work on getting pics. I didnt take any. Its only the the differential yoke that straps attach too that currently doesn't have clips, its only running the straps as with the clips in the ujoint caps the ujoint would not seat into yoke. the clips do not land inside the yokes races and prevent the joint from seating into the yokes ears.

 

Well, what @HeyYou and now myself are trying to tell you is that there needs to be some method of retention on the face so that cap doesn't spit out under centrifugal force. Dodge thought the stupid c-clips were super cool but it was a lazy man's way of not having to bother to cast keeper nubs into the yoke.

But you NEED one or the other: the c-clip or keeper nubs. The compressive force of just the strap around the circumference is not enough.

Also I've had numerous problems with the seals on the 811X, specifically once you click them fully seated the grease hydraulics and causes the plastic to split. I like Spicer but they screwed up on the 811 seals

 

Ok thanks, Ill pull it again and clean up the yoke and see if I cant get the clip to land inside the ears.. Thank you.

 

See the little nubs that are where the end of the u-joint cap would be? If yours has those, you don't need c-clips.