Guys i am finally getting this 12 bolt together. The yoke for the diff has larger u joints than my 10 bolt did so I got a conversion u joint.
The yoke does not have the (small tabs)?? Like my 10 bolt yoke to keep the ujoint from moving side to side in the yoke. I am not sure if that could happen anyway but thought I would mention it. Does this yoke just use u bolts for the ujoint or is there a different kind of strap for it? I have been to Napa but can't seem to find u bolts that fit.

I don't know for sure about 12 bolts. I have an olds axle, and the yoke doesn't have the centering tabs either. Do NOT use it like this, with just a u-bolt. If you don't have it centered properly, you'll get a nasty vibration. I even went so far as to center it with a dial indicator, and it still vibrated.

I've seen you can get caps instead of the u-bolts, and the caps have the centering tabs. I've never seen them used though.

In my case, the u-joint itself was supposed to have "C" clips that fit around the u-joint, and fit snuggly between the yoke ears. The clips fit inside the yoke, and prevent any sideways movement. Then you can retain the ujoint with ubolts, and a yoke without tabs.

It turned out, I also had the wrong ujoint, mine didn't have the grooves for the C clips. The guys at the local parts store fixed me up with the proper joint and clips. Problem solved!

Summit Racing sells caps for 12bolts that keep the u-joint from walking back and forth.They are al. and work perfect.

where did you find a yoke like that? all the chevy ones have tabs. you will have to use a ujoint that has grooves so that you can put a clip to center it from the middle. just like bulb 122 said. tom

where did you find a yoke like that? all the chevy ones have tabs. you will have to use a ujoint that has grooves so that you can put a clip to center it from the middle. just like bulb 122 said. tom

This is the yoke that came with the diff. What is the correct center to center measurement between the holes on the yoke. This one is 1 1/2"

Here are some measurments on the pinion yoke I have. 30 spline .I can post a pic later today.

Diameter of the u joint saddle .... 1 1/8"
3 3/4" across the ujoint saddle . It has no locating tabs
2 9/16 overall height
1 1/2" between the u bolt holes center to center

Jerry,
Does your exisitng u-joint have the grooves for the c-clips? If so, you should be able to tell if they are spaced correctly to fit between the saddles on your yoke. Then all you'll need to di is find the c-clips that fit it.

Mine didn't have the grooves, so I took my driveshaft right to the parts store with me. I also measured the distance between the insides of the axle yoke, and the saddle dia. I gave them my driveshaft, and told them I needed a joint that fit this shaft, and would fit in this yoke, with these dimensions. They looked things up in their books, and dug one out of the back room. The new joint came with teh c-clips too. And they pressed it in for me for $4 extra..... can't beat that! :)

Cant help your dilemma about the stops, but if your yoke is threaded you use straps, if not threaded than bolts it is my friend. good luck.

After a closer look I see the u joints have a retainer ring that snaps on to center the u joint :clonk: . But I still could not find u bolts to match. I ended up buying a new yoke this morning.