quote:I'm going to try replacing just the u-joints not the entire half shaft. Does this seem like a reasonable plan or am I wasting my time ?
Not at all a waste of time.
If your shafts are stock, you'll need to hook up with a vendor to get replacement u-joints; they are no longer terribly expensive.
If you have Spicer replacement half shafts, those should be available locally. The permanently lubed units are fine for our use - P/N 5-801X. That means no annual grease gun adventures with the subsequent grease slinging all over the engine bay/bottom of fiberglass tub.
Probably best to press these in rather than the old hammer and socket routine. If you have a press, fine. If not, pay someone for an hour of their time and save yourself the headache.
Others may say to use the joints with the zerk fittings.
I too had always leaned towards those units, until this year.
I replaced all the joints on 2511. The guy at the driveline shop, upon hearing that the car only got 5-7 thousands miles annually, said go with the permanently lubed units. He said they will last at least ten years at that rate.
Larry