So this is day four of ownership of my 81 280zx...did alot of body work and prep. Then I bought a new 400.00 Borla system to find my manifold gasket is gone. Replaced the Passenger side haft shaft 70.00. Got 2 new front fenders ordered 275.00 To find the hoods hinge rusted off. So add another 200.00 for the hood. So I figure today to reward myself from doing all this work and the money spent, for a 45 mile trip to work. Well since the spedo is non working cant tell you how fast I was going 5th gear @ 4000 rpm??? 65/70. Anyway downshifted to 4th to make a pass on the interstate and got a lil vibration. Then all hell broke loose and my driver half shaft ended up in a windshield of an on coming car. Why? I checked the uni's everything was tight. There was a whine in the rear but figured that's how datsuns were. I do have to ask if anyone else has had this issue? (Car bangs hard not a clunk a BANG when the tire spins in reverse) noticed this last night moveing the car in some wet grass. How ever lucky for me today I didn't kill anyone and it didn't harm the rear diff or wheel hub.

 

rear diff mounts tend to go out on a lot of these cars. And i don't know about what gears you have in yours but 4 grand in 5th? that was closer to 90-100 in my car. 3 grand in 5th was about 70. I didn't have a working speedo either but I GPSed it and memorized a few key speeds in different gears.
Always fun finding a cheap Datsun though, i did the same thing. Good luck with her and have fun!

 

HOLY S#*%. Really??? Honestly felt like 60 65! Indian summer out here 68 outside today people slow down a lot. Figured that's why I was passing. Now I know why my dash was shaking. THANK YOU for saving me and my license. Funny is this how these cars roll? it was smooth as silk and no play or wander in the front end. "granted all the bushings and tie rods ball joints ETC are new from the past owner. Now that mount out on a limb.....there's that crappy piece of tin right behind the diff above that looks to be a singal bolt attached at the top of the diff with a rubber strap? Is it one or several hiding around that diff? And this mustache bar?? Wheres it at. If its there I may have to drop the gas tank.

 

Oh and an up date... The insurance company called 5 times tonight 2 times to ask what a datsun was. And 3 times to ask how a datsun drive shaft flys 50 feet into a windshield. Bought a used shaft on z specalities for 65.00 + a 30.00 core for my old shaft laying in the front seat of ford zx-2.. So not that bad. what you guys think??? Throw it in or automatically buy new universals. God got to get my *** end under control here

 

i paid 300 for mine. replaced the injector wireing. 400K miles and still run/drives strong as hell. although it used to be a auto with 3:54 i replaced with 5speed/3:90 gears. other then that. fckin awsome car!

 

The U-Joints in our driveshafts are non-replaceable You have to go to a drivline shop and have them make a new shaft for you that has replaceable U-Joints, that is, if you want to change the U-Joints

 

I am talking of the half shaft u joints. Got all kind of racket going on hopeing just maybe the other half shaft is the culprit. Had to pay the guy 700.00 today rather pay than the insurance pay. also got barely a 64th of an inch. Im a machinist .012 up and down play in the yoke going in to the rear end. and .029 in and out and .011 side to side. I heard this is normal gear/ shaft clearances?

 

4000 RPM in my Z is 80MPH, every 500 RMP up or down in 5th is 5 MPH change up and down.

As for the drive shaft U-Joints, the N/A Drive shafts are replaceable (I just had one replaced in March). I think the Turbo drive shafts are not replaceable.

Kind of scarry how a half shaft just falls out of the Z... I guess when u-joint goes then it's bad times for everyone

 

NO WARNING!!! Had a whine since I bought it thought throw out bearing didnt pay no mind. Down shifter lil shimmy in the rear and bearings both universals needle bearings went bounceing over both lanes of the interstate Some how the shaft did a end over end and bounced 8 ft up down in the on comeing lanes then I saw brake lights like S>O>B!!!!!!!. Anything was in front of me I would of hit them slow mo THIS JUST DIDNT HAPPEN DID IT

 

Yikes...Thats a bit scary @.@

 

Yea the car got upset.....told me there you go replace it. chucked it right out 4-5 bangs. But I did find however the mounting bolts came out nice. Who designed the rear end of my car. Want to go dig them up and kick them in the nuts!!! Diff side got studs nuts come right off Wheel side suck they couldnt of tapped the mount holes???Got that lil bolt with the lil nut need two wrenches and their bastard tight!!. Did find a nice gash in my brand new borla muffler. SOB!! so nothin a lil weld cant fix.:armata_PDT

 

always check everything, to have it fly out is amazing, good thing it didnt lodge and send you spinning. for the driveshaft you can have new joints put in, you dont need a complete shaft. to properly check a u-joint you must remove the shaft from the vehicle and test it range, then vise it and see if it has play. there should be none. as far as the diff, pick up a haynes manual, it will be your bible for all things for your car. some whine is normal, but turning up the radio should take care of that heres one of my half shaft u-joints enjoy

 

Thanks however my drive-shaft is new. Was very paranoid of the rear end being bad. The end play is normal I was told. So just waiting for the Ups man to bring my part.

 

Nice troll pencil, Shady!