ive got the drive shaft out of the car but cant figure out how to det the rear u-joint off the drive shaft. do i need a press? ive already got the 2 horse shoe kinda clips off each side thanks
I use a vise to support the two stubs (take the cups off) and a big hammer to hit the solid part of the shaft as precisely as possible not hitting where the cups go. You don't want to damage the ring area. A ball joint/u-joint press is great. The vise trick is if you don't have one. I was desperate once and used two 4x4s.
It's an art, I use a old 1/2" drive extension (the female side is just smaller than the u-joint cap), support the end with a block of wood, and tap the u-joint till the cap falls out the other side, then once the cap is out of the way, I tap the other cap till it falls into the middle, then pull it off, and wiggle what left out. I don't reuse them, so if your trying to save the u-joint this might not be the best way. I learned this from an old guy on my street growing up, he was in his 70's in the 80's so it may not be the best way to do it, but it always works for me. Then I have a big "C" clamp for installing the new u-joint,takes some patience (if it doesn't go together easy, there is a reason, don't force it), but works.
ok i'll give it a try. i have a brand new one ready to go on. i lost the 2 "cups" off the one that already on the drive shaft so i figure since the part is only $10 i may as well swap in the whole joint
Ive used presses, 2x4s, sockets, hammers, etc before. Harbor freight sells a tool that Ive looked at recently but havent went to get it yet. http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=38335 Im not sure how well it'd work, but might work pretty decent. Just a thought if you dont have a vise or a press
Wonder how one of these would work? http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=41799 I always use a regular ball peen but this would be a better choice if it would work.
While you got it out, smart thing would be to replace the front one also... Saves you trouble in the long run. And grease the heck out of them. The front one you can grease before you put it back in the rearend. The rear one... install it into the driveshaft, then put then put the caps on the ujoint that go onto the rearend. Tape them on w/ some electrical tape. Then grease it that way. This way the caps dont fall off or get pushed off due to the grease. When you get under the car you can easily move the driveshaft around w/o having to worry about dropping a cap. Then just cut the tape as you install it the rest of the way.
Yep this is the easiest way, but if you do not have a vise you can user c clamps the same way or just beat it out with hammer and big punch
I second this... my buddy and I screwed up the yokes on my mom's GMC Jimmy, and we straigtened them back out. Its out of balance now. Im debating on having it balanced or just find a new noe.
I usually cut the cross out with one of the 4 inch cutting wheels. Then the caps can be tapped out without fear of spreading the ears of the yolk. This does take a little more time, But it saves the shaft. Also if you use a joint with a grease fitting ( which i dont recommend if you run any kind of sticky tires) Be sure to put the grease zerk on the compression side of the shaft.
Where would someone get a u-joint w/o a grease fitting? I haven't seen one of those other than factory in forever.
