Bent half shaft U-joint flange
 

I am about the install my half shaft u joints and realized that both U joint flanges are bent. Any suggestions on how to bend them back?

How are they bent. Can you post photos.

From pressing them out without a backing plate or reinforcement.

...Unlikely to bend them back perfectly. Buy new ones.

I have used a H-press to straighten them. Without the backing plate or something to hold them. Pressing out the u-joints easily bends them

Yes it was from pressing out the U joint. What a stupid mistake..... So for a backing plate is that a tool that is made or just fabricate it? What material works best and thickness? Before I spend the money on new flanges I think I am going to try to fix them.
Thanks for the help

looks like this.
http://www.ecklerscorvette.com/corve...port-tool.html

thegazman
 

Mac.... I made a backing plate with a piece of 1/4" plate steel. The home made plate will not have the machined grove in it so you have to be careful when you tighten the flange. If you make a backing plate you can use it as an aid to straighten the bend flanges.

Mine were bent inward by a previous owner. I found the caps partially extended out of the yoke because the retaining clips did not seat and were missing. I got lucky on that. I used an arbor press and very carefully spread the yoke back out to its proper width being careful to keep everything cenetered.

I purchased new ones from Bairs, and agree with the previous posts about the steel backing plate. Not using the backing plate is why I had to purchase a new one.

:thumbs:

What about using a 1/4 in aluminum plate? Or would aluminum not have the required stiffness? With aluminum I can easily grind out the circle area in the middle so the plate sits flush against the flange.

I made one from a 4x4 piece of 1" thick 7075 aluminum. Chucked in the lathe and cut a ring for the yoke, drilled and tapped it. Works great.

How bad is it?

When I was helping dad with his car we were working on the wheel bearing too so I bolted the flange to drive hub to replace the u-joint so I didn't bend the flange. When we were done and separated the flange, it still sprung enough I could see it was bent just looking at it. Still, it straightened out and moved without binding once bolted back together so we just put it together the way it was.

thegazman
 

I think 1/4" aluminum may not be rigid enough. Without the grove just be careful that you don't over tighten the bolts as it will bend the flange outward. Without the groove it may help to spread the flanges out to their original shape as you tighten the bolts.