GatorFan
You think I Shiv a Get?!!!?
OK guys, I replaced both CV Shafts on my 2000 Sierra in May 2012 but yesterday afternoon I checked under the truck, doing my normal visual inspection (about every week or so), and noticed the passenger side inner-boot was busted open.
So I figure, hey, it has a lifetime warranty so I will just run up to Advance Auto and swap it out. Did that, and came back this morning and the damn thing would bind up when I tried bolting all 6 bolts into flange on the trans-axle side. This happened before and it ended up being the wrong part (correct part #, boxed wrong). I took off all but 1 bolt and the shaft would spin freely (same as before) so I knew it was the wrong part. Anyway, I headed back to Advance Auto and they pull another one off the shelf...it looks the exact same as the WRONG PART! I ended up taking my busted one back and then visited AutoZone. The picture on the parts computer looked exactly like the one I needed but when the parts guy opened the box so I could compare it to mine...WRONG PART!
I then tried PepBoys...SAME THING! So I decided to bite the bullet and give the local GMC parts department a call to see what uncle GMC would charge (get ready for this one)...The parts guy said $598 PER SIDE...ARE YOU F-ING KIDDING ME?
Anyway, I tried calling several Driveshaft shops here in Raleigh and NO ONE replaces boots on CV shafts anymore. One shop told me it was cheaper to just buy a new CV Shaft. I agreed but told him the dilemma I was having finding the right freaking part. He wished me luck and hung up.
Anyway, have any of you guys replaced CV Shafts on the GMT800 and had the cv shafts spin free but when you bolted them up to the trans-axke side, it would bind up like someone had a screwdriver in the vents of the brake rotor; meaning the shaft would only move a couple of inches left or right? Like I said, I had this happen before, went back to the parts store, picked up another one that EXACTLY matched the flange and it worked like a champ. Unfortunately, it died 4 months later.
The flanges on the ones I am now getting from ALL the parts stores are either round or the notches in the flange are not as pronounced as my factory shafts OR the ones I previously picked up from Advance Auto 4 months ago. I am totally screwed now unless I eat the big one and drop $600 to uncle GMC. WTF? How can national-chain parts stores sell NEW freaking CV shafts with lifetime warranties for around $60 (which in my case are not fitting) and the dealer (aka. STEALER) charges 10 times that amount per side?
This is what the CORRECT flange is supposed to look like...At least on my GMC notice how pronounced the cutouts are on the flange.
They also had a CV shaft that the cutouts on the flange wasn't as prominent as mine and the picture above and that one would BIND up too when I tried to bolt it on. That is what happened to me this morning that stated this whole SHAT STORM!!!!!!!
This is what PepBoys and Autozone had and they say is the correct shaft...I checked online and this one I think fits the GMT900 trucks.
Note the ROUND flange. These WILL NOT work and cause them to bind up when I try to bolt them on.
Now I have to wait until tomorrow (and basically pissed away my whole day) to see if the one that CarQuest has in stock (after their truck comes in) will work.
I going freakin' crazy about this!!!!
So I figure, hey, it has a lifetime warranty so I will just run up to Advance Auto and swap it out. Did that, and came back this morning and the damn thing would bind up when I tried bolting all 6 bolts into flange on the trans-axle side. This happened before and it ended up being the wrong part (correct part #, boxed wrong). I took off all but 1 bolt and the shaft would spin freely (same as before) so I knew it was the wrong part. Anyway, I headed back to Advance Auto and they pull another one off the shelf...it looks the exact same as the WRONG PART! I ended up taking my busted one back and then visited AutoZone. The picture on the parts computer looked exactly like the one I needed but when the parts guy opened the box so I could compare it to mine...WRONG PART!
I then tried PepBoys...SAME THING! So I decided to bite the bullet and give the local GMC parts department a call to see what uncle GMC would charge (get ready for this one)...The parts guy said $598 PER SIDE...ARE YOU F-ING KIDDING ME?
Anyway, I tried calling several Driveshaft shops here in Raleigh and NO ONE replaces boots on CV shafts anymore. One shop told me it was cheaper to just buy a new CV Shaft. I agreed but told him the dilemma I was having finding the right freaking part. He wished me luck and hung up.
Anyway, have any of you guys replaced CV Shafts on the GMT800 and had the cv shafts spin free but when you bolted them up to the trans-axke side, it would bind up like someone had a screwdriver in the vents of the brake rotor; meaning the shaft would only move a couple of inches left or right? Like I said, I had this happen before, went back to the parts store, picked up another one that EXACTLY matched the flange and it worked like a champ. Unfortunately, it died 4 months later.
The flanges on the ones I am now getting from ALL the parts stores are either round or the notches in the flange are not as pronounced as my factory shafts OR the ones I previously picked up from Advance Auto 4 months ago. I am totally screwed now unless I eat the big one and drop $600 to uncle GMC. WTF? How can national-chain parts stores sell NEW freaking CV shafts with lifetime warranties for around $60 (which in my case are not fitting) and the dealer (aka. STEALER) charges 10 times that amount per side?
This is what the CORRECT flange is supposed to look like...At least on my GMC notice how pronounced the cutouts are on the flange.
They also had a CV shaft that the cutouts on the flange wasn't as prominent as mine and the picture above and that one would BIND up too when I tried to bolt it on. That is what happened to me this morning that stated this whole SHAT STORM!!!!!!!
This is what PepBoys and Autozone had and they say is the correct shaft...I checked online and this one I think fits the GMT900 trucks.
Note the ROUND flange. These WILL NOT work and cause them to bind up when I try to bolt them on.
Now I have to wait until tomorrow (and basically pissed away my whole day) to see if the one that CarQuest has in stock (after their truck comes in) will work.
I going freakin' crazy about this!!!!
